RCF bonus impasse continues

The union went on a three-day strike from October 22. Only 28 out of 4000 workers were deemed eligible for the 20 per cent bonus this year.The union secretary D V Khadpe claimed that only three of the 15 plants in Mumbai and Trombay worked with 60 per cent load.

Union members said last year, the management had paid all employees earning a salary over the ceiling limit a supplementary benefit in the form of material utilisation (MU) incentive between Rs 8,450-9,000. This year, the company offered Rs 1,772 though the profits were higher.The management, said union spokespersons, has attributed its inability to pay to government guidelines passed in 1994 for ex-gratia payment. They accused the RCF management of realising a little too late that the monthly production incentives being paid to the employees exceeded the limit fixed by the government.

Rawale termed the RCF management’s decision as unfair, and refused to compromise on the issue with RCF chairperson and managing director D K Verma. He accused Verma of offering to meet him for negotiations outside the office. “Verma was arrogant and even spoke of shutting down RCF. I told him, we will close down Parliament. This is sheer injustice,” he declared.