TSDPL Wage Settlement Talks Reach Deadlock, Union Refuses to Accept Less Than ₹12,300 Hike

 Jamshedpur: The long-pending wage settlement of Tata Steel Downstream Products Limited (TSDPL), due since October 2023, appears to have reached a critical impasse, with a significant gap emerging between the demands of the workers’ union and the offer reportedly being considered by the management.

At a crucial meeting of the TSDPL Workers’ Union held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Union President Rakeshwar Pandey, office bearers and committee members unanimously resolved that the union would not sign any wage settlement agreement if the proposed increase is below ₹12,300.

During the meeting, members were briefed on the progress of discussions held with the company management. According to information shared with the committee, the management, citing prevailing market competition and business conditions, is not inclined to offer a wage increase exceeding ₹8,000.

The union, however, strongly opposed this position. Leaders pointed out that during the previous wage settlement covering the 2017–2023 period, employees received a grade revision amounting to ₹12,300. Therefore, accepting a lower figure in the current agreement would be unacceptable to the workforce.

Union representatives further argued that since the last grade revision, the combined growth in employees’ Basic Pay, Dearness Allowance (DA), and annual increments has already reached nearly ₹30,000, strengthening the case for a substantial wage increase.

Comparisons with wage settlements in other associate companies also featured prominently in the discussions. According to the union, employees at BlueScope received a wage increase of around ₹19,500, while workers at Tinplate received approximately ₹7,500. The management is reportedly using such industry comparisons to justify its stance, but union leaders maintained that ₹12,300 remains the minimum acceptable benchmark.

With nearly 700 employees awaiting the outcome, the deadlock has raised concerns over when the long-pending settlement will finally be concluded.

Apart from wage negotiations, employee welfare issues also came under sharp scrutiny during the meeting. Committee members expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of food being served in the company canteen, alleging that meals are not being provided as per the prescribed menu.

Employees cited the breakfast served on Wednesday as an example, claiming that the chutney provided with idlis was stale and excessively sour. The union expressed serious concern over the declining quality of food and indicated that the matter would be taken up with the management.

The meeting was attended by General Secretary Tridev Singh and several office bearers and committee members, including Shashi Mishra, Kaushal, Amanji, Sachchidanand Sinha, and Upendra Rai. The union leadership reiterated its commitment to protecting employees’ interests and securing a satisfactory wage agreement.