Interim injunction against NLC unions going on strike

The Madras High Court today granted an interim injunction against various unions of Neyveli Lignite Corporation restraining them from disrupting mining and generation activities of NLC.
Justice T Raja, before whom the petitions filed by NLC Chief Regional Manager M Maheswaran came up, granted the stay on the strike declaration notice by the unions from July 2.
NLC submitted it is a public utility service employing 16,000 people, besides workers engaged by contractors to carry out non-perennial works like maintenance.
The Corporation said the wage structure for unionized category of workmen is determined through negotiated settlement between the management and bargaining agents who are usually the negotiating trade unions.

Negotiations for wage settlement from 2007 to 2012 could not be held due to pending court cases by various unions.
After NLC Workers Progressive Union and NLC Anna Workers and Staff union emerged as biggest unions in 2012 and were authorised to take part in wage talks for four years, talks were held and the unions made several demands, NLC said.

The last wage revision committee meeting was on April 29 this year and it was adjourned without specifying any date.
Meanwhile, various non-negotiating unions had been making 'exorbitant' demands and issuing notices to the management.
After they threatened to strike work and hold gate meetings and dharnas, the management moved the High Court and obtained an interim injunction against it on May 13.

On June 18, the negotiating unions also issued similar notices and made certain demands which were directly in conflict with central government directives, NLC said.
They said they would go on strike from July 2.
Alleging that there was every reason to believe that the mining and generation activities would be severely hampered and workmen affiliated to these unions may indulge in agitations and strike work, the management approached the High Court with the present petitions.
NLC submitted that though most workers were not willing to join the strike, many law-abiding people would not venture to attend work for fear of personal harm and reprisals.

Notices, handbills, gate meetings had all created a tense situation in the premises of NLC and it had become evident that loyal workers or officers would be either prevented from attending work from July 2 or discouraged from venturing out of their homes for fear of intimidation.
Hence the management prayed for issuing an interim injunction, restraining all unions from preventing by threats, intimidation or otherwise free ingress and egress to those willing to come to work.