HC restrains MRF from dealing with 'minority' union

Chennai, Jul 28 (UNI) Madras High Court today restrained the Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) from entering into any settlement relating to wage or any other issue with the MRF Arakkonam Workers Welfare Union, on a petition filed by a rival union.

Admitting a writ petition filed by MRF United Workers Union, represented by its General Secretary G Shankar, Justice N Paul Vasantha Kumar issued notice to the Union and State Governments and the MRF management, returnable by two weeks.

The petitioner submitted that his union was a registered one of the workers of the MRF tyre manufacturing plant at Ichiputhur in Arakkonam and had a membership of 1,022 confirmed workers.

He contended that the Secretaries of the Union Labour and External Affairs Ministries, and State Labour Department had failed to comply with the recommendations of the 348th report of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Governing Body's Committee on Freedom of Association in case No.2512(India), resulting in the MRF management perpetuating their puppet union and unilaterally imposing terms and conditions of service on the workers and continuing with their anti-union acts, discrimination against the Union office bearers and members, he added.

''Formation of the union and the overwhelming support of the workers for the union resulted in massive victimisation of workers.

The measures of victimisation adopted include unjust dismissal, suspension and transfer of the union office bearers and members and substantial reduction in their wages. Apart from this, the office bearers and active members of the union were harassed by foisting of criminal cases against them,'' he contended.

The petitioner prayed for a direction to the MRF management to recognise their union as they enjopyed the favour of the majority and not to enter into any settlements with the MRF Arakkonam Workers Welfare Union, which was in minority.

UNI XR GD SBC KN1928