Reliance Textile

Jatin Agarwal

1311616

About the plant

Setup in 1966

Located in Naroda

Products:

1. Fabrics

2. Apparels

3. Auto Furnishing

Capacity to process 1.8 million meters per month.

Contribution of Rs.2,000 crores to RIL turnover.

6000 workers as per the website.

Working Conditions before the strike

Wages had not increased for 5 years.

Permanent workers: 5000-6000 rupees/month.

Contractual workers: 85-100 rupees/day.

2 anti-worker unions.

No recess hour for tea.

Abusive management.

A failed strike in April 2011.

Strike and Demands

2nd shift on 2nd of February, 2012

5000 workers on strike

Workers formed ‘Reliance Employees Union’

16-point demand list

Demands of the workers

* Total current salary to be increased 60% according to grade.* Make badli workers permanent on the basis of seniority* Increase salary even if days less than 240; Increase salary according to grade* Implement fixed salary system* Give double overtime* Give tea-snacks in the canteen* Agreement salary should be given* Give 20% bonus

Demands of the workers

* Begin10-minute late entry* Fill accident forms according to procedure* No employee should be harassed in future* Workers involved in strike will not be fired.* Dissolve the worker mahajan and their sabhas. All workers do not approve of these unions.* Give all workers working in contract Rs 200 according to 8 hours work* The loss of working days haziri during strike should be remitted.* Give written acceptance of all these demands.

Settlement

Use of Police force.

No demands were fulfilled.

Hiring of new contractual workers.

Forced to call off the strike after about a month.

After Effects of the Strike

Strike in Arvind Mills in June.

News announced on June 22, 2012 to sell the brand.

My opinions on the case

Deal properly with the workers and at least have some kind of negotiation with them.

The workers should have registered the Union.

Gujarat government needs to change its stance from being pro-employer to having a balanced approach.

Gujarat has the most number of days lost due to strikes in India.

Media plays a very important role in the success and failure of any strike and in this case we could see how the lack of coverage affected the outcome.

FIN