Binny Workers Demand State Assurance On Vrs Plan

Binny workers want a state government assurance to back the VRS proposal brokered by chief minister M Karunanidhi. In the latest round of talks with the health minister Arcot Veerasamy, workers have said that if the VRS is to be paid in two instalments as asked for by the management, then such a deal should be backed by a governmental assurance.

This is to ensure that the deal will be honoured by the management and the entire payment as worked out in the VRS package is actually honoured.

Earlier, the government had brokered a deal between the management and the workers whereby each worker on an average would get about Rs 1.25 lakh plus gratuity, depending on the number of years in service.

The management, while accepting the package in principle, wanted the payment to be made in instalments.

With the workers demanding a full and final settlement at one go and the management not willing to do so, the issue once again remained unresolved. Now, it has been proposed that the payment will be made in two instalments.

At the time of a worker accepting the VRS, the company is to pay half of the entitlement while the balance amount will be made later. The unions have suggested that the final payment be made within three months of the first payment, but the management says it will take at least a year before payments can be finalised. The government is now likely to convene a meeting again with the management to find a solution that is acceptable to both parties.

It has been suggested that a period of six months, backed by a government assurance on payment within the stipulated time period will be thrashed out soon.