Till the day before the formal takeover, labour disputes plagued the Sanand plant of Tata Motors and the facility that Ford India Private Limited (FIPL) had bought. On Tuesday, the vehicle assembly facility at Sanand owned by FIPL will officially transfer to Tata Motors’ subsidiary, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML).
Ford employees have met with representatives of the Ahmedabad labour commissioner and asked for better hiring conditions. For Rs 725.7 crore, TPEML would purchase the equipment and assets of FIPL. At least 600 employees at the FIPL Sanand factory have reportedly requested fair hiring conditions.
Vijay Bapodara, a member of the Ford Workers’ Union said, “Not all workers want to be transferred to TPEML and therefore, have sought a severance package in accordance with what has been given to labourers at the Chennai plant. Meanwhile, we have demanded that our union remain active and its issues pending before the labour commissioner be duly.”
Tata Motors spokesperson said, “We are equally pleased to offer employment to 100% of the FIPL vehicle assembly plant employees, with benefits of the same salary, continuity of service and other terms and conditions similar to those they are currently subject to. We also respect the decision of some of the employees who may opt to not join us and wish them the best for their future endeavours.”
Karnavati Kamdar Ekta Sangh and Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat have both filed appeals with the Ahmedabad labour commissioner on the matter.
A source at the labour commissioner’s office said, “A section of workers don’t want to move to Ford and have demanded a severance package from the company.”
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