The Hindu Business Line : Bottling plant in Uttaranchal — PepsiCo workers' strike continues on transfer issue

PEPSICO India is facing a workers' agitation at its Company Owned Bottling Plant in Bajpur, Uttaranchal, which has an installed capacity of one lakh cases of soft drink per day. About 87 permanent employees at this plant have been on strike since June 8, protesting the sudden transfer of seven colleagues.

Acknowledging that there is a strike, a PepsiCo spokesperson termed it "illegal." "There are some workers reporting for work every day at the Bajpur plant. A few workers are on an illegal strike. They have not given any prior notice as is statutory," he told Business Line.

The employees alleged that the management began transferring employees after they decided to form a union. Refuting the allegation, the spokesperson said, "This (the transfers) is very much a part of their appointment letter and is also part of the certified standing orders applicable to all of them. Transfer of workmen from one plant to any of the 16 plants has been prevalent and is decided on the basis of business requirements.

"Transfers have been made as always, to ensure that the workmen get exposure to new environments and to facilitate their growth and for business needs."

Also, while the employees say that "workers from outside have been brought in to continue production at Bajpur despite the strike," the spokesperson said, "the production is being managed by the executives along with the workmen who have not joined the strike. In some areas, as per the law, temporary workers are being used in unskilled positions."

He said that regular tripartite discussions were being held by the Deputy Labour Commissioner to resolve the imbroglio. "Besides, we have made continuous appeals for communication," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, the Regional Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association (IUF) based in Australia, Mr Ma Wei Pin, has extended his organisation's support to the workers' agitation at Bajpur.

Expressing "grave concern" at the management of this plant, he said the IUF will do all it can to support these workers. "IUF will protest to the Pepsi head office and inform all cola workers of this violation around the world," he said.

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