In a long-standing legal fight, the court has finally ruled in favor of the Siemens Workers Union, granting them official recognition over their rivals, the All India Siemens Employees Union. This decision marks the end of a 20-year-old case.
The Siemens Workers Union had been seeking recognition since 1994. They filed a request under a law that deals with recognizing unions and stopping unfair practices at work. Their goal was to become the official union for Siemens employees at the Kalwa plant.
The case had many ups and downs. At first, the Industrial Court found that the Siemens Workers Union had more members. Despite this, the All India Siemens Employees Union disagreed, saying they had more members.
An officer was appointed to check the membership records. After a detailed look, it was found that the Siemens Workers Union had 1,170 valid members compared to 1,140 for the rival union. This investigation was done during a time when some workers were reportedly under a lot of stress.
"The majority of such workers were under great tension, fear and pressure," noted the investigating officer.
The court, led by Judges Ravindra V. Ghuge and Ashwin D. Bhobe, looked at a lot of evidence. The Industrial Court had already decided that the Siemens Workers Union met all the necessary conditions for recognition, including having more than 30% of the total employees as members.
On November 24, 2005, the Industrial Court gave official recognition to the Siemens Workers Union. The High Court agreed with this decision, rejecting the complaint filed by the All India Siemens Employees Union.
"The conclusions are supported by sound reasons, which are legal, fair and proper," the judges stated.
The court's decision emphasizes the importance of having the majority's support for union recognition. With this ruling, the Siemens Workers Union can now officially represent the workers at the Kalwa plant, ending the long-standing conflict.
