FMRAI Vol. I No.-6                                                                 

MARCH 2002

Preparation for country wide month long relay strike by field workers

  21 February : After successful week long general strike in January, 2001 the field workers of the country again are preparing for month long relay strikes beginning on 9 April and ending on 8 May. Field workers of Orissa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Kerala will resort to 3 days strike from 9 to 11 April followed by field workers of Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, Maharastra, Goa and Karnataka during 16-18 April; West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh during 23-25 April and Assam and other north eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Tamilnadu during 6-8 May. This was the decision of the recently concluded General Council meeting of FMRAI.

  Field workers of the country are forced to resort to strike, once again, as the managements intensified attacks on their profession, union and legal rights by recruiting illegally sales promotion employees in the category of "sales officers", "territory managers" etc. and by contracting out products and territories to franchisees. Secondly, the employers have also launched unprecedented attacks imposing unbearable work load, new work  systems including managerial functions, and forcing those on the field workers under threats of victimisation. Further, the employers are terrorising, victimising the field workers and destabilising their job security on sales and sales targets, connecting the same with disciplinary matters and making those as parts of the conditions of service in violation of the workers status of the sales promotion employees and without identifying the managerial, economy, market failures. These are the three burning issues at present which the organised sector field workers are facing and against which they are determined to resort to strike while pursuing other demands in the 27 point common charter of demands.

  For unorganised sector (small scale sector) field workers, FMRAI demanded fixation of Rs. 3000 as minimum basic salary with 2 rupees variable dearness allowances per point, effective from 1 January, 1996, bonus, provident fund and gratuity

as per law; leave facilities and rules as per SPE Act and minimum working facilities and inputs. On these issues unorganised sector field workers are being mobilised for strike.

  Field workers are also going to strike protesting against spiralling price increase of medicines, for easy availability of medicines, against spurious medicines and black marketing, for self-reliance in drug production and weeding out inessential medicines and against amendment of Indian Patent Act. In addition to these three sections of demands, FMRAI and its state units have been pursuing for statutory working rules, central and state level tripartite standing committees, fixation and endorsement of minimum wages and other applicable labour laws contained in the 27 point common charter of demands of FMRAI.

  However, relay strike beginning on 9 April, will focus mainly on three burning issues of organised sector field workers; minimum demands as benchmark for small scale unorganised sector field workers and exploitation of the people by drug curtails-government together making the people victims of virtual extortions under threats of life during sickness and emergencies.

  During relay strike, street corner meetings will be held on the first day, demonstrations in front of some rogue companies on second day and rally and effigy burning on third day to be conducted from specially constructed strike centres in different locations in cities and towns.

  Prior to strike, massive campaign will be launched amongst members, fraternal organisations, people seeking their help and support in this massive united action programmes in which more than 75,000 field workers of the country are expected to participate.

  Rapid progress in Ranbaxy in building harmonious industrial relation

  21 February :  while filing this report today news came in from Mumbai that after protracted discussion a memorandum was being signed between the management of Ranbaxy, number one pharmaceutical company in India, and fmrai’s grievance committee on the question of sales policies and sales related eight suspensions. It is a significant development to entire industry on which a rational policy has been accepted by both the sides in respect of degrowth of sales. Already four sales related suspensions were withdrawn by the management.

The four remaining suspensions have also been withdrawn with satisfactory placement of the concerned field workers. It may be recalled that in an earlier agreement in Mumbai, the issue on dumping and discount sales were also settled by adopting a rational and healthy sales policy on record. These two developments will help in the field workers movement to pursue such lines in other companies. Again in Ranbaxy another significant agreement was signed by which management assured not to replace medical representatives by sales officer category.

In Ranbaxy, in different circumstances, large number of field workers met in an all India convention on 19 September 2001 at New Delhi. At that time black marketing, sales related victimisations were the fore-front issues which seriously disturbed the industrial relation. Since then series of agitations were launched including strikes, dharnas, demonstrations and a massive march to Delhi joined by hundreds of Ranbaxy field workers. While coming on movement, FMRAI’s committee responded in a positive manner on the proposal for discussion. FMRAI suspended all sorts of movements, after the first agreement in Mumbai to create congenial atmosphere for further discussion.

In the meantime, management agreed to retransfer one field worker from Karnataka to Kanpur as per earlier understanding. In the next round of discussion some remaining issues of suspensions on work related charge sheets may be taken up for discussion before the pending charter of demand is taken up for discussion and settlement. Only after which fmrai’s committee agreed to discuss on management’s proposal for incentive schemes.o

Editorial:

Once again the country has been facing threats from religious fundamentalists with vested interests. Every time the working people are required to get united, to fight for their jobs, social securities and for their livelihood. The ugly face of divisive forces come out in the surface to divide the working people on religious sentiment, whipping up emotions leading to passion which in turn, leads to riotous behaviour and criminal activities like what happened in Godhra incited by the criminals and then thousands of innocents were being killed by the maraudars in the name of faith. Criminal condemnable act at Godhra cannot be excused in perpetrating state-abated communal frenzy in Gujarat. In this communal riot, one Medical Representative lost his life and one’s house was burnt. The stage was set by self-styled representatives of hindus, by notorious characters like Ashok Singhals and a group of people calling themselves as saints but who are engaged in political activities, by raising the bogey of Ram temple in the disputed site despite pending case in court and Supreme Court’s order of status quo.

It is shameful that such communal elements today are in power at the centre, but rejected in the recently held four state assembly elections and fourteen by-elections accross the country. The central government pampered and promoted communal organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and other outfits and openly supported the illegal activities of these outfits.

Innocent and peace-loving majority people, both Hindus and Muslims, in Gujarat are not involved in this game. The perpetrators of this crime are only small minority section who are imposing this fascist dictat on the majority of the pople by the mayhem they have created at Gujarat. We condemn in strongest possible terms such killings. But the responsibility lies squarely on VHP and its outfits who were already marginalised as the recent election results show.

The working people including all sections of workers have shown their unanimity in opposing the Central Government’s anti-people general and rail budgets and anti people and anti-national economic policy, imposing heavy taxation on salaried people, increasing the prices of essential commodities, fares and freights whereas further concessions were given to the corporate sectors. By reducing customs duties and increasing freights, the Indian industries have been put in disadvantageous position compared to the concessions given for free entry of foreign goods and services whereas United States of America are putting anti-dumping clauses against Indian textiles and steel.

It is in this background we appeal to all field workers of the country to join in massive protest actions on 14 March and strike struggles in April in addition to relay strikes of FMRAI in April-May, 2002.

Comrade Sushil Kumar Singh, a medical representative based at Muzaffarpur in Bihar, working for Nicholas

 Piramal India Ltd. passed away following a road accident on 11 March, 2002 around 8.30 in the evening while 

he was on duty. He left behind his wife and a son only of 2 years old.

Comrade sushil Kumar Singh was a State Executive Committee member of BSSR Union and was an important 

functionary in the field worker’s movement in Bihar. His premature death has shocked the entire fraternity and is

 a great loss to BSSR Union and FMRAI.

   FMRAI condoled the untimely death of comrade Sushil Kumar Singh and conveyed heartfelt condolence to  his  bereaved family members.

Follied sales policy of Biological E

  23 February – In September last, purposeful discussion took place between the management of Biological E and FMrai’s leadership followed by fmrai’s grievance committee meeting with the management resulting in an understanding on the basis of which and on further discussion an agreement in the form of minutes was arrived at, ushering in a forward movement towards co-operative industrial relationship.

However, contrary to expectation, there was immediate backward movement in industrial relation. FMRAI accused the management for violating the understanding and management accused fmrai for the same, both issuing circulars to field workers giving their views and perceptions. The dispute revolved round a single issue i.e. sales of company’s products while both the parties desired the growth of sales and profit of the company. But for going against the same FMRAI accused the management of resorting to unfair trade practices destabilising the market, resulting in huge market outstanding. The Management accused fmrai of being obstructionist etc.

But, on two grounds management is solely responsible for their backward step. Firstly, unfair trade practices, indulged by the management under the field executives, resulted in dumping, unethical discounts, large accumulated outstandings, intra and inter state movement of company’s products through black market channels, large scale entry of spurious medicines through this black market route, complicity of the management in distribution with corrupt transporters, destabilisation of company’s market and artificially recording false sales and fixing targets on this false sales base.

It was mutually agreed in September meeting that Management would stop such practices, FMRAI and field workers would co-operate with the management in increasing sales and reducing outstanding and after independent investigations by both the sides the reasons for increasings would be reviewed after three months for the purpose of taking remedial steps unless necessary. FMRAI issued an open circular confirming this understanding which the management agreed and appreciated.

But instead of such thorough examination of the causes and suggesting remedial measures for correction, management had put the blame squarely on the field workers, victimising them in different forms including termination of services of negotiating committee members, not adhering to the earlier understanding, forcing the field working to give undertaking on sales, forcing the field workers to report to the the head office where they bring inhuman pressure and tortures on field workers to leave the company. Management is not prepared to accept their failed policy of recruitment of ‘sales officers’ keeping them outside but failed to secure business through them.

Fmrai’s General Council meeting noted that Biological E has rapidly been approaching FDC’s suicidal way, pushing the company and the field workers in total disarray. To save the situation from such disaster for the company's interest, FMRAI sent its grievance committee members for further discussions with management to find out as to whether the management could revert to the 13 September understanding. Management’s line reflected in the form of draft minutes from them. It shattered all such hopes when the management in their draft minutes asked the grievance committee members to sign to make them and fmrai appendage in following the company’s grave line of follying. Even after that, fmrai’s General Secretary, as a last attempt to save the situation, wrote to the Managing Director expecting positive response by end of February. This time fresh movement in Biological E. will be long drawn to fight the disastrous sales policy of the management and instrument of victimisation of field workers as a part of it.

11 February token strike

Warning to German Remedies

 21February; It was a successful strike surpassing all  previous strikes since the time management put on their field staff association sign board. In response to the call of fmrai, this time more German Remedies field workers resorted to strike and staged state wise dharnas in front of company’s establishments where large number of general members of FMRAI joined in gate meetings and demonstrations, addressed by fmrai and state unit leaders at Kolkata, Cuttack, Jaipur, Indore, Mumbai in front of corporate office, Vijaywada, Chennai and Ernakulam. In all, on the basis of so far received reports, 132 German Remedies field workers resorted to strike and the report from 12 others are expected. Many field workers could not join the strike under threat from the management.

This strike was mainly in protest against the retrograde position taken by the management from the agreement signed on 14 August 2000 and openly campaigning for their sign-board union. Already a case by fmrai is pending before the Industrial Court of Mumbai against such unfair
labour parctices by German Remedies management.

As was notified by fmrai, a delegation met the management in the corporate office on 18 February.  Management refused to reconsider their stand and was bent upon to impose their puppet union on FMRAI members. Same day, German Remedies AICC meeting was held and recommended intensification of agitation.

The future agitation in German Remedies will include badge wearing during company’s meeting raising demands, individual demand telegram to management, all India convention, dharna and demonstration in front of head office and two day’s strike.

FMRAI intends to submit charter of demands to the company shortly and will launch agitation in pursuance of the charter of demands.o

psu workers

countrywide strike on 16 April

he Committee of Public Sector Trade Unions (CPSTU), supported by central trade unions have given a call for countrywide strike in all central public sector undertakings  including banks and insurance on 16  April next. The strike call has been given to oppose the disastrous anti-people policies of the NDA government at the  centre, in respect of disinvestment of PSUs, downsizing work force, attack on trade union rights, proposed change in labour laws etc.

  FMRAI calls upon the field workers working in central public sector drug companies to join the strike on that day.o

Set-back for GSK management in courts

Rapid organisational consolidation of field workers

 23 February—Illegal activities of GSK management were thoroughly exposed when Industrial courts in Mumbai issued series of orders, staying the illegal orders of GSK management.

In a case filed in November, 2001, Hon’ble Industrial Court at Mumbai first issued a temporary stay which later on made absolute till final disposal of the case against illegal order of transfer issued to Abhay Jain by the then Glaxo India Limited by their letter dated 16 October, 2001 transferring him from Udaipur in Rajastan to Imphal in Manipur state. Abhay Jain has been continuing his work at Udaipur as per court’s order.

The company got another jolt when one of the senior most leaders of FMRAI, Vice-President of bssr Union M.S. Bhattacharya of ex-Glaxo also obtained a temporary stay against his transfer from Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar to Bangalore in Karnataka. The case is coming for hearing on 6 March. It may be recalled that M.S. Bhattacharya, WBMSRU’s Vice-President Jyotish Dutta and others have been retained in the lowest service conditions in the pay scale, daily allowances etc. as they had refused to accept the settlement through management’s puppet field staff association. A delegation consisting of M.S. Bhattacharya, Abhay Jain, Jyotish Dutta and Prabal Sengupta met the Glaxo management twice for opening discussion through a separate foram to resolve their grievances. After these meetings, management transferred them to discourage such meeting in future.

FMRAI also complained before the Industrial court at Mumbai against various unfair labour practices indulged by former Glaxo management and now by GSK management under case no. 730 of 2001. The management has filed counter affidavit and the case is posted for hearing. Another case is pending between SB Pharmaceuticals and FMRAI at Bangalore in respect of leave entitlement and leave facilities under SPE Act which will have wider repercussions in the merged company and in the industry.

In SB Pharmacuticals, all transfer, termination issues were resolved through discussion while in Glaxo, these matters are non-negotiable to the management despite large scale transfers and termination of service. In SB Pharmaceuticals, no occasion arose to go for any serious agitation during more than a decade even though, FMRAI remained an activie union in the company. In contrast, in Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, there has been continuous agitation and opposition by a limited force inside the company due to council’s unorganised position and continuous outside agitation by the field workers in general.

In SB Pharmaceuticals, the company had been showing steady growth in sales and profitability whereas in Glaxo, the sales took a nosedive, the profit stumbled down and share value came down to 25% from its peak level. Before merger, the company had shown 33% negative growth. Divisionalisation and the placement of the field workers completely flopped and the company did not know how to come out from such a mess. In SB Pharmaceuticals, there was no complaint of black marketing of medicines on the basis of dumping and discount and the market outstanding was bare minimum while in Glaxo, dumping and unfair trade practices became the main business activities, creating huge market outstandings, ultimately causing loss to the company.

Now, these two companies merged and formed new company GSK. Questions arose as to whose marketing policy and industrial relation policy the new merged comapny would adopt. After initial hesitancy, GSK Pharmaceuticals management decided to follow

  Glaxo’s policy both for marketing and industrial relation in respect of the field workers in the company even though, in both these policies, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals experienced their failures in all fronts.

To confront the situation, guided by FMRAI, GSK Employees’ Union was formed with declared purpose of having all India Union for actual bargain, a democratic trade union platform for the field workers, protection of the past service conditions and their up gradation,  protection of job security against terminations and transfers of services, establishment of an all India grievance redressal forum and for protection of the legal rights of all field workers in the merged company. It is not only intended to protect SB’s gains but also to extend those to ex-Glaxo section and further consolidate legal, trade union and bargaining rights of all field workers in the merged company.

Within a month’s time, at least six hundred ex-SB and ex-Glaxo field workers joined the GSK Employees Union while others were in the process of joining in large numbers. Management became panicky, issued circular clearly establishing unfair labour practices, openly interfering in the internal matters of the union, top marketing and HR executives started hopping from place to place, calling the field workers in comapny’s meetings, and openly threatening them for joining in GSK Employees Union. But this time their attempts did not succeed. They resorted to transfer, termination and charge sheets to the leading functionaries of FMRAI including ex-Glaxo and ex-SB. Here also, the management got severe jolts.

In this background, GSK Employees union, backed by FMRAI decided to hold successful zonal conventions of GSK field workers to consolidate the organisational position without getting distracted by the management’s diversionary tactics to provoke actions before consolidation by the field workers in the organisation and with the intention to cover up the misdeeds and failures of the management both in marketing and HR. Accordingly, north zone convention of GSK will be held on 3 March at New Delhi, on 10 March at Mumbai for west zone, on 17 March at Kolkata for east zone and 24 March at Chennai for south zone. After successful zonal conventions, an all India convention will be held at Mumbai where details of further agitation by GSK field worker, supported by general unity will be decided.o

biggest mobilisation in franco-indian

To end parallelism and regain lost grounds in wage structure

  20 february; Till filing this report, wage negotiation between Franco Indian Pharmaceuticals and fmrai’s negotiating committee, known as crmr in the company, is in rapid progress and reported to be in the final stage. The negotiation resumed on 11 February after intense interaction between the management and the leading functionaries of fmrai in Franco Indian during 30 and 31 January.

In response to the call of fmrai 154 Franco Indian field workers, coming from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkand, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam assembled at Nair samaj Hall at Mumbai on 30 January in an all India convention. This was the biggest ever gathering of Franco Indian field workers. The convention adopted resolution supporting FMRAI’s notice to the company for dharna and demonstration in-front of company’s head office next day and for further intensive struggle in future including strikes. On 30 January morning members met the management and submitted memorandum signed by 254 field workers supporting the AICC resolution of fmrai in respect of their service and working conditions. Management received the delegation and the memorandum and expressed desire to resume discussion. Next day morning negotiating committee members met the management and submitted the resolution of the convention. From morning till 2.30 in the afternoon, intense discussion took place at various levels. Ultimately, cretain understandings were reached in which management agreed on certain basic demands of wage negotiation. On that basis, fmrai decided to put off demonstration, dharna programmed in

front of head office and the negotiation date was fixed on 11 February. The convention met in the afternoon of 31 January, heard the reporting from the leadership in respect of the discussion with the management and expressed their total satisfaction and confidence on their united struggle and the organisation. FMRAI leadership greeted them for their resolve and success.

The convention fully supported and expressed determination to break the past practice of structural wage reduction, settlement by settlement, recovering the past losses, particularly in respect to variable dearness allowance, to make the settlement effective immediately on expiry of the last settlement, structural improvement in basic pay scales, fitment with protection of past benefits. The convention also expressed determination to eliminate parallelism in Franco Indian and to make fmrai’s committee as the sole bargaining committee. The March to Mumbai on 30 and 31 January, 2002 was to achieve these basic objectives.

In the meantime, in a knee-jurk reaction, the management had declared discontinuation of negotiation with fmrai’s committee, dismissed 9 trainee field workers who joined fmrai’s agitation, brought an ad interim injunction from a civil court to prevent fmrai staging demonstration in the company’s doorstep and mobilised large number of police to contain the demonstration. Unfortunately for the management, they closed all options leading the bilateral relation to a blind allay and then approaching fmrai’s committee to find solutions. Civil court and police posting did not deter the field workers. Management had to approach crmr for further discussion and there will be no settlement in the company unless each of the dismissed field worker is back in the company.o

Alembic In Ferment For Rights Of The Field Workers

21 February :  A successful all India conveners meeting of Alembic represented by conveners and joint conveners from WBMSRU, Osru, bssru, upmsra, rmsru, mpmsru, msmra, apmsru, tnmsra, ksm & Sra and KMSRA, held at Bangalore on 2 February, decided to meet corporate management at Baroda in a delegation demanding all India discussion on their service and working conditions with fmrai’s 10 member committee elected in the meeting. The meeting further decided for campaign amongst Alembic field workers throughout the country and hold an all India convention at Nagpur on 15 July. The meeting elected Ashim Dasgupta (Kolkata) as All India Convener, K.P.Chowdhary (Yavatmal) as Joint All India Convener, Arup Hazra (Kolkata) as Zonal and Prabir Patnayak (Balasore) as Joint Zonal Conveners, Deepak Khanna (Sri Ganganagar) as Zonal Co-ordinator, R.K. Srivastava (Gorakhpur) as Joint Zonal Co-ordinator, S.R. Nalvade (Kolhapur) as Zonal Convener, M.P. Sukla (Raipur) as Joint Zonal Convener, L.S. Varavi (Guntur) as Zonal Convener, and K. Srikant (Chennai) as Joint Zonal Convener.

In the meantime charter of demands by MSMRA to Paraan Ltd. is pending for discussion and a charter of demands has been submitted by south zone committee of FMRAI to the management of Darshak. A grievance committee meeting in Purak in east was held on
14 February in which the management took adamant stand to continue repressive policies, curtailment of existing benefits and retrograde position in respect of the right of representation. The field workers of the east, after their one day strike and zonal dharna, decided to intensify the struggle further. o

Zonal conventions and march to baroda by sppl field workers

21 February : Zonal conventions of Sarabhai Piramal field workers (ethical) will be held on 10 March at Kolkata for East, 17 March at Chennai for South, 14 April at Mumbai for West and 21 April at Delhi for North in support of a resolution adopted in an emergent AICC meeting, held at Bangalore on 5 and 6 February, raising 5  point demands including demand to stop unfair trade practices; against follow up letters to medical practitioners; against unilateral change in day to day work in violation of the understanding and agreements; against victimisation by way of transfers, threat of transfers on sales ground and demanding urgent meeting with the Central Grievance Committee to resolve these issues. A delegation will also meet the corporate management before an all India March and Convention at Baroda. The resolution urged upon the management to respond positively within 15 March failing which agitation would be launched, the resolution added.

Big stride of field workers in Astra from new delhi in 2000 to hyderabad in 2002

  20 February ; November 2000 issue of fmrai News reported on all India Convention of Astra-IDL field workers, held at New Delhi on 19 September 2000, under the headline ‘‘end victimisation and end unfair trade practices in astra-idl’’. That was the first all India convention in Astra-IDL which was attended by 133 field workers out of total 186  confirmed field workers at that time.

Second all India convention of the field workers of the company, renamed as AstraZeneca was held in different circumstances at Hyderabad on 7 February 2002 which was attended by 332 field workers. The convention was held after the fourth wage settlement which was signed at Bangalore on 2 Febraury 2002.  

In between, significant developments had taken place in company’s set up, in its marketing policy and in improved industrial relation in respect of the field workers. In between, Astra field workers had to resort to intense struggle including strikes to fight against unfair trade and labour practices prevailing at that time leading to victimisation of field workers like transfers, termination of services etc. The company’s name had been changed with change in the ownership abroad, the managing director had been changed, unethical trade practices at corporate level and by lower marketing managements stopped, victimisations including transfer issues are being satisfactorily resolved, best wage settlement for the field workers in the company was signed and the management and field workers’ trade union interacted intensively for improving the industrial relation.

The General Secretary, D.P. Dubey and Vice-President J.S. Majumder specially came to Hyderabad to attend this convention, held at Indira Priyadarshini auditorium, after 3 days all India residential meeting of the company at Hyderabad was over by noon same day in a hotel.

The convention decided to collect fund from each field worker from arrear amounts to create a reserve fund for fmrai’s AstraZeneca councils.

Best settlement

The fourth wage settlement was signed at Bangalore on 2 February, 2002. This was the best settlement for the field workers in the company so far in terms of structural improvement, monthly pay packets with other allowances, in eliminating any attempt of parallelism and organisational consolidation in accruing benefits to members.

Basic pay scale was revised with addition of Rs. 500 at entry point, scale being applicable from the date of joining with increased rate of annual increment adding Rs. 15 at the lowest 5 years slab in the scale going upto additional Rs. 45 in the highest slab. Basic pay has been fitted on point to point basis in the revised pay scale protecting all amounts above the existing scale. In multislab fixed dearness allowance with one slab increase and additional amounts of minimum Rs. 150 and maximum Rs. 245 were added in moving pattern on seniority basis. Variable dearness allowance rates with one additional slab have also been increased in multislab system with seniority weightage revising to Rs. 2.40 as minimum and to Rs. 3.00 per point as maximum neuturalisation rate of price index. The combined effect of these were in the substantial increase in the total pay of each field worker, with perpetual compound impact also attracting additional statutory benefits. The minimum benefits of the settlement was Rs. 1947 and the maximum Rs. 3045 per month as on 1 July 2000 in which about Rs. 422 are in wage part. The settlement is effective, on expiry of last settlement, from 1 July 2000 and will be in operation for three and half years.

In non-wage part kit, vehicle maintenance, sample storage allowances were increased. Daily allowances have been increased by Rs. 19, Rs. 23 and Rs. 25 per day in head quarter, ex-head quarter and upcountry with additional Rs. 4 in each slab on 1 July on each in 3 successive years.

The settlement benefits will be given only on forwarding the acceptance declaration through the All India Convener of FMRAI and arrears will be paid on submitting the same on or before 2 May 2002.

Long struggle in USV Culminated realising bargaining rights

  21 February; Decade old struggle in USV culminated in realisation of bargaining rights of the field workers of the company, organised under fmrai on 26 December last when a negotiated wage settlement was signed by the management and the field workers negotiating committee in the head office of the company in presence of all top level corporate management. The process was not easy and many sacrifices were made.

To suppress fmrai’s movement, USV transferred and dismissed large number of field workers and appointed franchisees on contract for marketing purposes. After long drawn battle and heavy sales and financial loss to the company, understanding was reached with reinstatement of victimised field workers. However, management continued with a fake field staff assocation, keeping their sign-board in front, for revision of service conditions, depriving bargaining rights. In the next phase, informal discussion with grievance committee started. This was formalised later on. However, when the Charter of demands was submitted again, the management resorted to transfers and issuing charge sheets. These issues were also satisfactorily resolved. In the last phase, negotiating committee and the management discussed the charter of demands and signed settlement. Both for realisation of full trade union rights and dearness allowances, the efforts will continue in future.

The salient features of the settlement

The wage settlement for 233 USV field workers, working all over the country, except Mumbai, was signed under ID Act, first time for the field workers of the company. Mumbai based field workers, at the instance of the management, kept out of FMRAI and had to accept productivity linked wage increase.

Instead of existing one grade of basic pay scale, two grades were introduced, second grade being applicable after completion of ten years with additional Rs. 400 at the entry point. In the first grade also, in the entry point, Rs. 400 was added. There was additional increase in the rate of annual increment by Rs. 20 in the first grade and additional Rs. 25 to Rs. 65 in the second grade. For fitment, existing salaries were fitted first in the existing scale, keeping the excess amount, if any, as personal pay and existing scale, keeping the excess amount, if any, as personal pay and existing salary lower than the scale was brought up to the existing scale and then fitted in the revised scales and grades, on the basis of years of service.

In lieu of variable dearness allowance, on 1st January every year Rs. 200 per month was added, beginning with first rise in January 2001 continuing upto January, 2004 with additional Rs. 800 that year. The settlement is effective from 1 January 2001 for four years.

On allowance part, there were increase in education, kit, sample storage, vehicle maintenance, medical and leave travel allowances. In daily allowance Rs. 10 was added in each slab with addition of Rs. 5 in alternate years. The minimum benefit was Rs. 1520 and maximum Rs. 2830 per month, as in January 2001.

AICC meeting, held at Mumbai, unanimously approved the settlement. The Grievance Committee is scheduled to meet at Mumbai on 22 February. o