Jamshedpur: For the first time, Tata Steel has reached an agreement on the revision of food and breakfast rates in its canteens, providing relief to contract employees by keeping the rates unchanged, while only a slight increase has been made for permanent employees.
Central Canteen Management Committee, led by Chief HRBP-Steel JSR and Committee Chairperson Mukesh Agarwal and Tata Workers Union Assistant Secretary cum committee vice chairperson Nitesh Raj, finalized the agreement during a meeting on Thursday. The revised rates will come into effect from February 1, 2025.
Under the new structure, the price of food will increase by ₹2.50, and breakfast items will see a hike of ₹0.50 to ₹1. Notably, this increase is smaller than the one agreed upon in 2020.
Over the past two years, significant improvements have been made to the canteen facilities. These include better resources, freshly painted and air-conditioned spaces, and the installation of insect catchers. Additionally, “Bain Marie” machines, which help keep food warm, are being introduced.
Union will continue to work for employees’ welfare: Nitesh Raj
Tata Workers Union Assistant Secretary Nitesh Raj emphasized the union’s dedication to employee welfare. “The union has always prioritized agreements that serve the best interests of employees and will continue to do so. This agreement reflects the collective efforts of all office bearers, including the President, General Secretary, and Canteen Committee members. It’s reassuring that contract workers were spared any additional burden, and we appreciate the management’s cooperation in addressing our concerns,” he said.
He informed, “Feedback from employees about the canteen services has also been actively encouraged, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of responses. Complaints have been consistently addressed, with a commitment to resolving them within 48 hours. Efforts have been made to enhance food quality, service timing, and hygiene standards across all canteens and trolley points.”
