Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Nov 30: The dispute over lockout declared by manufacturer of wind turbines, Suzlon Energy Ltd, for its unit near Padubidri is over. After an agreement was arrived at between the workers of the company and the management, the friction has seen a happy ending. The 15-day standoff is finally over and as per the agreement, all the 326 workers facing axe will be able to report for duty.
Suzlon management, at the same time, agreed to withdrew cases it had registered against its workers for damaging property, and the internal inquiry ordered by it over various issues. Kaup MLA, Vinay Kumar Sorake, who mediated the deal, told the media that an agreement about either re-appointment of 40 retrenched workers of the turbine unit or announcement of final financial package for them is being finalized.
The agreement now arrived at needs the seal of approval at the board meeting of the company being held at the corporate office of the company at Pune. Once that is done, the lockout will be cleared in a week. Dakshina Kannada district president of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Manohar Shetty, informed that the company has agreed to pay salary during the period till the lockout is officially lifted.
At the same time, the company has said that there will not be any hike in the pay of its employees for a year because of commercial loss it has suffered. It also placed the condition that not less than 30 turbine blades of 54 metres size should be produced in each month. At the same time, it has offered to pay additional allowance if production exceeds this limit during any month. The company also has said that if production is hit, the workers will be entitled only for half pay.
Udupi district INTUC president, Ganesh Kotian, said that the workers have expressed their commitment to abide by the said conditions. Suzlon's corporate head, Vijay Asnani, human resoruces officer, Anadi Sathi, local officials, Anthony Phillip, Dakshinamurthy, Aspen Infra general manager, Ashok Shetty, and INTUC office bearers from the twin-districts were present.