Union Demands Clarity as Coke Plant Section Set to Shut Down
Key Points:
- Coke Plant’s Battery No. 7 to shut down on Monday, affecting 271 employees.
- 175 employees will move to the surplus pool; 96 to be adjusted in other sections.
- Union demands prior approval for decisions affecting employee adjustments.
JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel’s Coke Plant’s Battery No. 7 is scheduled to shut down on Monday, leaving 271 employees impacted. Among them, 175 workers will be shifted to the surplus pool, while 96 employees will be accommodated in other sections as per operational needs.
Union Pushes for Employee Welfare
The Tata Workers’ Union has been engaging in continuous discussions with management over the past three days to address concerns about employee adjustments. On Saturday, a two-and-a-half-hour meeting failed to yield a resolution. Union leaders emphasized that no decisions about employee allocation should be made without union consent.
Management Stands Firm
During the discussions, management reiterated their decision to accommodate 96 employees in other sections and move the remaining 175 workers to the surplus pool. The union proposed filling existing vacancies, including around 50 positions in operations and 50 in mechanical and electrical maintenance, to minimize the impact on employees. However, management did not provide any assurance.
Agreement of 2023 Cited as Cause
Union officials from the opposition faction attributed management’s rigid stance to the 2023 agreement, which outlines a reduction in Tata Steel’s workforce from 11,100 to 8,300 by June 2026. They believe this target has led to the stringent approach in employee adjustments.
Meeting Ends Without Resolution
The union ended the meeting, urging management to involve decision-making authorities in future discussions. With no consensus reached, the meeting concluded without addressing the concerns of the affected employees.
