INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

1.1 Sound and responsible labour behaviour and an enlightened and progressive management are the sine qua non for the maintenance of industrial peace. The role of the Labour department in this area would be to aid and maintain a harmonious balance between labour and management so that there is conducive atmosphere for achieving the objective of growth and prosperity. The officers of the Labour Department achieve this important task through a delicate mechanism of intervention at the appropriate time to conciliate and settle industrial disputes that may upset the balance. In order to strengthen the Industrial Relations Machinery, the Government had created by redeployment, two posts of Deputy Commissioners of Labour, one at Dindigul and the other at Coonoor. Their Offices at Dindigul and Coonoor have started functioning with effect from 03.02.2000 and 11.02.2000 respectively. The Government had also created by re-deployment one more post of Labour Officer at Vellore as Labour Officer-II, Vellore. Officers of the Labour Department have effectively intervened and settled strikes and lockouts. As a result the number of mandays lost in the year 1998 registered a sharp fall from 30.55 lakhs to 26.54 lakhs. The following Table gives the details.

YEAR	STRIKES	LOCKOUTS	TOTAL
1998 1999	1718416 1626966	1337198 1027175	3055614 2654141

1.2 Apart from handling strikes and lockouts, the conciliation machinery of the Labour Department had handled and settled a broad spectrum of labour disputes ranging from alleged violation of working hours to serious misconducts. During the year 1999, 6910 disputes were settled out of a total of 11,816 disputes raised during the period.

1.3 Payment of bonus, especially during Deepavali had been a subject matter of intense labour dispute almost during every year.

The nature and significance of the bonus dispute is such that if not resolved in time, it may lead to large labour unrest through out the State. Such a sensitive issue had to be handled carefully. During the year 1999 the officials of the Labour Department had carefully handled the disputes relating to Bonus. As a result, most of the issues relating to Bonus were solved amicably in the minimum possible time and in a professional manner. As a result the Bonus period went off peacefully.

1.4 Following is a list of strikes and lock-outs in which major issues were involved and were solved by the Conciliation Officers of the Labour Department.

MAJOR STRIKES SETTLED BY THE CONCILITION OFFICERS

Sl. No.	Name of the Unit	No. of Workers
1	2	3
1	Chennai Purasawalkam Hindu Janobakara Saswatha Nidhi Ltd., Chennai-84.	80
2	Trident Textiles Mills Ltd.,	280
3	Shanmugaraja Spinning Mills Ltd., Cithode.	217
4	Kanthagiri Spinning Mills, Unit-2, Vazhapadi, Salem.	400
5	Nachiammai Cotton Mills Ltd., Salem.	170
6	Kovai Mavatta Nugarvoor Kutturavu Motha Virpanai Pandaka Salai, Coimbatore.	554
7	Kanyakumari Vatta Anaithu Kaithari Niruvanangal, Kanyakumari District.	2000
8	SRP Mills Ltd., Coimbatore.	336
9	Madura Coats Ltd(P)	3460
10	Coats Villa India, Madurai.	667
11	GA Power Control India Ltd., Hosur.	258
10	Hindustan Motor Ltd., Hosur.	161
13	Dulya Alloy Castings Ltd., Coimbatore.	268
14	Ashok Leyland and Unit-II, Hosur.	509
15	SyrianJip Fashioner (P) Ltd., Sivagangai.	316
16	Cithar Industries, Trichy.	574
17	Arasu Rubber Corporation, Nagercoil.	2149
18	Madras Aluminium Company Ltd., Mettur Dam.	1000

MAJOR LOCK-OUTS SETTLED BY THE OFFICERS

Sl. No.	Name of the Unit	Workers
1	Advani Orlican Ltd., Chennai.	73
2	Solidar Ltd., Perungudi.	80
3	Hirsch Watch Straps Ltd., Hosur.	103
4	Sri Vishalakshi Mills, ABC Units, Vilangudi.	989
5	Magnam Clothing, Chennai.	359
6	Uma Maheswari Ltd., Hosur.	675
7	Textools Co. Ltd., Ganapathi, Coimbatore.	1100
8	Greave Ltd., Ranipet.	345