New attendance: BHEL unions to move labour commissioner

Discord between BHEL trade unions and management over junking the decades-old punching cards with swipe attendance has escalated with unions deciding to take up the matter with labour commissioner. And BHEL brass is hanging a carrot before workers to douse dissent. The management has linked swipe attendance with a reward policy to switch over to the new system. A circular issued by BHEL stated workers can bag attractive benefits by swiping cards at factory terminals. Workers with more than 65% attendance will be rewarded with a cash price of Rs 1,400 and those achieving 100% will be given cash rewards of Rs 2,200. BHEL management claimed 70% attendance was recorded by swipe cards on first day of announcement of reward policy on Wednesday, while unions called it a big lie and a bait to lure workers. Karamchari Trade Union vice-president Mukund Godbole said, "They are using reward policy to compel workers to swipe cards. This reward policy is illegal under Industrial Dispute Act, thus the management is using fraudulent means to impose their policies." more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Bhopal/New-attendance-BHEL-unions-to-move-labour-commissioner/articleshow/42792455.cms