Trade union with 50% support can be the sole negotiator during talks

THE Madras High Court has ruled that the trade union which has mustered the support of more than 50% of the workers can be the sole negotiator and can prevent the other unions from participating in the talks with the management of an establishment regarding wage revision and other welfare matters.

- R SIVAKUMAR @Chennai

However, the court also added that any union which has the support of more than 20% of the workforce will be part of the negotiating council.

The ruling was issued by a division bench of justices R Subramanian and C Kumarappan while disposing of a 2011 appeal filed by M Shanmugam, general secretary of the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) affiliated to the DMK, challenging the single judge's order and seeking a direction to the management of the transport corporations to engage only LPF, which is recognised as the union with majority support, for negotiations with the management.