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Our Bureau

Kochi , March 9

A TRADE union referendum held on March 6 in the Mooply Valley group of estates of the Harrisons Malayalam Ltd (HML) in Kerala, probably first of its kind in the plantation sector in the State, has turned a new leaf in the industrial relations scenario.

The Mooply group of rubber estates belonging to the HML have been under pressure due to multiplicity of trade unions, a company press release here said. The "irresponsible attitude" of the minor unions has often led to disruption in work, leaving the workers and the management losers, it said.

The management of the HML was struggling for the past four years in trying to keep the business afloat due to the poor prices prevailed for rubber and tea. Whilst majority of the workmen and their trade unions have understood the precarious situation, which the industry was going through, certain workmen along with their trade unions were instigating and promoting labour unrest on the estates.

Recently, the management, after apprising the workmen and their trade unions of the financial crisis faced by the company, approached the State Government for granting six months' time to disburse the minimum statutory bonus to its 25,000 employees in accordance with the provisions of the Bonus Act.

However, when the employees on 23 estates had cooperated, the workmen of the Mooply estate alone resorted to strike. The State Government banned the strike through an order dated June 3, 2003. It was at this juncture the management was forced to approach the Government to hold an impartial referendum on this group.

The Regional Joint Labour Commissioner, based on the proceedings of the Labour Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram, held a trade union referendum on March 6.

As per the understanding, trade unions representing 15 per cent of the workmen of the estate alone were to be recognised. Accordingly, the number of trade unions has come down to three from nine in the estate, it said.

The management felt that due to the bold step taken by the Government and the Labour Department, there would be a welcome change in the industrial relations scenario in the State.

More Stories on : Trade & Labour Unions | Plantations | Kerala

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