THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Trade unionism has reared its head at the BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL) - the latest being CPI’s AITUC following in the footsteps of the INTUC - but the BATL administration has categorically stated that it will not recognise any union. It also attributed the present troubles to the activities of a ‘’minority’’ among the employees.
‘’At the time BrahMos acquired KELTEC (Kerala Hitech Industries Ltd), there was a decent, gentleman’s agreement signed by the trade unions along with the Labour Commissioner saying no trade union activities will be taken up till December 2012,’’ BATL executive director N R Vishnu Kartha told ‘Express’. ‘’If anybody has formed a union, it must be outside the premises. I’m not aware of it,’’ Kartha said.
According to him, the agreement had provided for the creation of a Workmen Welfare Committee. That being the case, the BATL administration was bound to discuss issues pertaining to the employees only with the committee. ‘’The employees here are well taken care of. Only ten percent is involved in such activities (unions). But these activities are also affecting the remaining 90 percent,’’ Kartha said, refuting the unions’ allegations that the benefits due to employees had been curtailed after the take-over.
Kartha said there were no grounds in the allegation that the employees had lost out on promotions and salary hikes.
‘’We have given enormous amounts of money. Rs 15,000 each was given as incentive alone. Which company has given that?’’ he asked. According to him, it would take time for a company like BATL to grow into a public sector defence production unit. But production of missile components is progressing smoothly, and BATL expected to bag an important contract soon, he said.
Although a joint initiative of the State Industries Department and the Union Defence Ministry, both the CPM and the Congress (the INTUC union at BATL is by and large inactive) have maintained strategic silence on the labour issue. Labour issues brewing at BATL are turning problematic with the BATL administration and a section of the employees, who allege irregularities at BATL, refusing to budge from their respective stands.
The employees, under the banner of the BrahMos Staff Association, had lodged several complaints with Defence Minister A K Antony, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and the State Labour Commissioner. The BATL management, sticking to its no-union stand, has largely kept away from meetings called by the Labour Commissioner.
The AITUC union, BrahMos Employees Union, on Sunday demanded the urgent intervention of the Defence Minister and also an inquiry into the utilisation of funds at BATL. The unions have also alleged anomalies in appointments, promotions and holidays.
In general, none of the promises made while taking over the State Government company KELTEC for Rs 1 were kept, they allege.
Meanwhile, BATL officials are still in the dark as to when they can take over the seven acres of Air Force land adjacent to its Chakai unit.
This land is necessary for the second phase development of BATL, for which the Defence Minister had laid a foundation-stone in February 2009.