Even as the HR (human resources) scene in the Sriperumbudur industrial corridor along the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway has been through disquiet following the labour imbroglio at the Samsung plant, the management of Stahl India Private Limited, a leather chemical company, has inked a three-year wage agreement with the employees of the factory. Stahl is one of the earliest to occupy this industrial belt. Stahl has changed hands a few times.
Significantly enough, the latest settlement is the 10th wage agreement initialled between the management and the employees. What is even more significant is the fact that all these ten wage settlements over these years have been signed by veteran S. Paramasivam, one of the fair and respected trade union leaders in Chennai. The latest wage settlement is a tribute to the co-partnership between the management and the union.
Broad agreement
The agreement covered a range of issues such as revision of salary, allowances, welfare, fringe benefits and other service conditions. During discussions prior to the signing of the settlement, the management emphasised that workmen need to play a significant and productive role towards accepting new work culture, work practices, productivity improvement techniques, discipline and Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) standards to ensure sustained growth in the context of increasing pressure of competition in the current globalised situation. Management also sought the commitment from the union on behalf of all the workmen to accept improvements and optimize the utilisation of the existing manpower.
After exhaustive discussions and negotiations, a settlement was arrived at early this month. To stay ahead in the competitive market, the union has accepted the necessity to maintain a high level of productivity. It is also agreed that the available manpower will be efficiently utilised. Further, the agreement also provides for suitable re-deploying of the unutilised manpower.
Skill development
“Workmen will undertake multi-skilled operations and shall also accept inter-departmental placements based on their skills and suitability, wherever required in the organisation, without prejudice to their present grade. Management will arrange to provide training to develop multi-skill for employees wherever and whenever required,” said the agreement.
“Both parties appreciate the goodwill and gesture shown by the other and the very cordial atmosphere in which these negotiations were carried out, which facilitated this overall settlement. It is hoped that this gesture of goodwill on the part of the management in agreeing to the revision of wages and allowances will be reciprocated by the workmen and that they will help improving the working of the company and additional financial commitment involved by this settlement will be made good by increase in production, productivity, job rotation, training-related activities as well as maintenance of highest order of safety, quality, commitment and discipline in the ensuing years,” the agreement said.
