Row over new union at the root of unrest

KAKINADA: The unprecedented violence in Yanam, or perhaps the entire Puduchery, had its roots in the differences that cropped between  factory workers and management over forming a workers' union. A worker, KVV Satyanarayana, floated a union in 1984 and wound it up in 1992. Since then the workers have had no union to represent them.In January last year, workers formed Regency Ceramics Officers and Workers Union and elected Amalapuram Congress MP GV Harsha Kumar as its president. Ever since the management and workers have been at loggerheads with each other.Recently, the management transferred 11 workers, who had played a key role in the formation of the union, to its Karaikal unit and sacked a supervisor, Machha Murali Mohan, who also played active role in forming the union. This led to protests and workers demanded revocation of the superviser's suspension. They warned that they would not step into the factory without Murali Mohan They also demanded payment of Rs 5,000 as bonus but the management linked bonus to production.Meanwhile, the management prepared new set of rules and allowed workers inside the factory only after signing the agreement in January this year. Later, the management tried to employ workers from other areas, which was opposed by the  union. The problem became knotty with about 700 workers boycotting work.