Tata Workers Union meet: Tata Steel’s NS Grade employees to receive post-retirement medical facilities

Union’s long standing three-tier system to continue

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 25: Uncertainty surrounded whether Tata Steel’s NS grade employees would receive medical benefits after retirement, akin to the benefits enjoyed by employees of the old grade. During a committee meeting on Monday, Union Vice President Shahnawaz Alam clarified that the agreement made during former President R Ravi Prasad’s tenure did not state that NS grade employees were excluded from post-retirement medical facilities. The meeting saw opposition members, including former Deputy President Arvind Pandey, RC Jha, Omprakash Sharma, Shivesh Verma, Dharmendra Upadhyay, and Vimal Kumar, questioning the ruling bench on this issue.

Responding to the committee members’ queries, Tata Workers Union President Sanjeev Kumar Chaudhary stated that disciplinary actions against committee members were not unprecedented. He cited the suspension of BB Singh, father of current union official Sanjay Singh, for 13 months. Chaudhary mentioned the implementation of ECBS 2.0 during his tenure and addressed concerns about the guest house in Kathmandu and Puri.

The meeting, which began at 9 AM and lasted until nearly 3 PM, included tributes, confirmation of the previous executive committee meeting proceedings, and approval of accounts from March to May. Additional matters were discussed with the chairman’s permission. The president assured that the issue of employee PF would be presented to the auditor and resolved according to existing rules. He also confirmed that the union’s long-standing three-tier system would continue, and initiatives would be taken regarding TMH’s RO and meetings with the MD and committee members.

Committee members highlighted issues such as concessions for NS grade employees in booking guest houses, lowering the ECBS passing score, and improving canteen quality. They also addressed LTC and IB concerns. RK Singh raised important issues like flat repairs, canteen quality improvement, and flexible working hours for women employees, to which the president did not respond.

General Secretary’s Club House Role: General Secretary clarified that his appointment as an officer of the clubhouse was at the president’s behest and expressed no personal interest in the role.

Presence of Outsider in Meeting: Notably, an outsider, the bodyguard of Union President Sanjeev Kumar Chaudhary, was present during the committee meeting, marking a first in the union’s history.

Committee Members Who Raised Questions: Om Prakash Sharma, Arvind Pandey, RC Jha, Dharmendra Upadhyay, Shivesh Verma, Santosh Pandey, Rakesh Kumar Singh, Dineshwar Kumar, Vimal Kumar, RK Singh, and others.