The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : NLC restrained from holding wage talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

NLC restrained from holding wage talks

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MARCH 31. The Madras High Court has restrained the Neyveli Lignite Corporation from holding wage talks with the DMK-affiliated NLC Workers Progressive Union, sole representative union of the entire workforce since 2001.

Justice P.D. Dinakaran granted the interim injunction on a writ petition filed jointly by the NLC Anna Workers and Staff Union, the NLC Pattali Thozhir Sangam, the NLC Mazdoor Sangh and the NLC Workers Solidarity Union.

The petitioners said that till 1982 the Corporation had invited all recognised unions for settlement talks and thereafter a Joint Council of Unions (JCU) comprising five biggest unions alone were called as representatives.

After a legal battle over the procedures, the NLC in 2001 agreed to hold election through a secret ballot for a representative union.

The NLC Workers Progressive Union polled about 40 per cent of the votes and was chosen the sole representative body of workers. It signed three settlements with the management.

Alleging that it had failed to bring to the notice of the management all demands of workers, the petitioner-unions called for fresh elections and recognition of all bodies, which received at least 10 per cent of the total votes as representative unions in settlement talks. As the NLC refused to heed the plea, they filed the petition stating no public office could be eternal and for life.

Mr. Justice Dinakaran admitted the plea, restrained the NLC from holding settlement talks until fresh elections were held and ordered notices to the NLC and the DMK-affiliated union.

Petition against director

The judge ordered notice on another writ petition seeking to initiate civil, criminal and departmental proceedings against the NLC Director (Personnel), R. Narasimhan, against whom a case was registered.

The petitioner, P. Kuppusamy of the NLC United Workers Union, alleged that he had indulged in corrupt practices involving several crores.

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