Production at Birla Tyres comes to a halt

BALASORE: Production has come to a halt in Birla Tyres for the last two days over the issue of wage settlement. Hundreds workers are on a  dharna demanding renewal of their wage agreement after the tripartite talks between the plant management and labour authorities failed last week.The workers had stalled production for eight days in December last year over the demand. Though the management, on January 3, had agreed to renew the contract during a discussion with District Collector Akhila Bihari Ota and labour officials, it was not adhered to.Labour union leaders alleged that though over one-and-a-half-month has passed by, the plant management has not taken steps to go for a fresh wage settlement.Sources said though the previous long-term wage settlement expired on September 2010 and workers were vying for increased wages since then, the trade unions and the management have failed to reach at a consensus.Earlier, the company had suggested a four-year wage agreement plan with a proposed hike of `1,000 for first year, followed by `500 each in next three years. But Birla Tyres Workers Union (BTWU), the recognised trade union which demands a hike of ` 3,200 at a time, refused to budge from its stand.In an appeal to all the workmen, the plant management has urged them to cooperate to reach at a settlement citing that the company  authorities have agreed to give a substantial hike despite the fact that the company is incurring a loss of `1.5 crore daily.Stating that the dharna is illegal, deputy unit head (works) of Birla Tyres Santosh Menon said the workmen have violated the verdict of Orissa High Court. After a petition was filed by BTWU,   the court had directed workers not to stage any dharna until the next hearing on March 7. “We are ready for the settlement, but it will be done after the hearing in the HC. We will go by the court order,” Menon said.The union on Friday appealed the court seeking facilities for the union by the company, cancellation of earlier discussion proceedings and amendment in the membership verification process. District Labour Officer SK Choudhury said efforts are on to restore normalcy in the plant.