INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY

 Dear Prof Shyam Sundar,

 

 

 

It was a pleasure reading in today’s Business Line, your article ,

 

“ A skewed approach to labour issues “

 

At one place you write :

 

“  Further the NITI Aayog typically completely leaves out any mention of INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY to meet the stated objectives, like fair wages or even minimum wages . Trade Unions perform important social and economic functions ( as an agency of collective agreements , reduction of transaction costs etc ). They constitute one of the fundamental human rights , according to the ILO “

 

Sir ,

 

You have raised a very important issue, viz, :

 

“ How can managements get the workers ( through their unions ), to participate in the decisions-making process of the organization to which they belong ? “

 

For over 8 years ( 1979 – 1987 ) when I was General Manager ( Powai Works ) of L&T , I tried to find an answer to this question , through hundreds of meetings with the Union Leaders but also through sending out communiques ( individual copies to each of 7,500 employees at Powai – in English and Marathi )

 

You may want to take a look at :

 

http://latterstolntemployee.blogspot.com/2013/07/do-not-rock-boat.html

 

with regards,

 

hemen  Parekh

 

hcp@RecruitGuru.com

 

www.hemenparekh.in

 

www.3pConsultants.co.in

 

 

PS :

 

Sometimes in 1977-79 , I had an opportunity to address the students of your Institute who were keen to know the difference between Management – declared , “ Lock Out “  vs  “ Suspension of Operations “