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US auto major Ford has recognised the employees' union at its Maraimalai Nagar facility, near Chennai. This is the first time the company is recognising an Union in its 15 years of operations at the plant.
Ford India spokesperson in a statement said: “Ford India has a valid and well-functioning employee participation forum made up of interested and democratically elected employees. We are taking the next step in our relationship with employees with formalization of Chennai Ford Employee Union (CFEU). Empowered with expanded responsibilities, CFEU will be the sole and independent forum with a greater voice within the company on matters relating to workers including compensation and benefits.
K Selvaraj, president of Chennai Ford Employees Union, which was recognised by the company, said that elections were held on March 10 and results were announced on 11th of March.
“The collective bargaining rights of the workers have been finally recognised by the management,” he said.
The other office bearers of the Union inlude G Kannadasan, vice president, A Satish Kumar, general secretary and E Padvattan, secretary. They will represent around 3,050 permanent workers and around 1,800 trainees.
“The current wage agreement is set to end soon and we have to start negotiating,” Selvaraj said.
