The nine-month long indefinite strike of the 70 retrenched project workers of the Tata Power Company (TPC) in Mumbai successfully came to an end when the management settled workers’ dues through cheque payment. TPC has been forced to pay substantial compensation of two crore to the workers and their families.
In 1996 TPC retrenched its 70 project workers. Though the workers fought their case, justice was not provided. On 3 October 2003, the official union members of the factory, who had earlier supported the workers decided to withdraw their support by signing an agreement with the management. Spurred by the betrayal, the very same day, the project workers went on a demonstration to the Tata headquarters in Bombay. Two among them - Anant Dalvi the leader of the group and Akhtar Khan, another active worker, shocked the headquarters when they doused themselves with kerosene and immolated before the Bombay House. Anant Dalvi died the same day and Akhtar Khan died 8 days later in hospital. The management tried to sort things by taking into confidence the mother and wife of Anant Dalvi who refused to give-in. Indira Ganpat Dalvi, 70-year old mother of Anant Dalvi showed tremendous courage when she let the top-level management know that they were not beggars. “We are here to ask for our rights, not alms. My son has given up his life for all seventy workers. And if the struggle succeeds Anjali Dalvi (Anant’s widow) will be the 70th person to accept the cheque from the company.”
The spirit of the workers was further ignited after this incident. With the support of Jagrut Kamgar Manch (a platform for conscious workers) and various other unions, the workers took the struggle forward more vehemently. Demonstrations were held regularly in front of Mumbai House, an area under prohibitory orders. Signature campaign was another mode of protest that they adopted. The protestors collected 2500 signatures from the supporters and well wishers, at different railway stations in three days.
On 18 June 2004, without an appointment, the workers and their supporters went to the Chief Ministers residence. Despite efforts by the police to stop them, 45 of them reached the residence though they were arrested for violating laws. They were detained and released only after 7 pm. On 24 June, the Chief Minister called the workers representatives for a meeting, after which he wrote a note to the labour minister calling for his attention to the workers problem and an immediate solution. The labour minister, called for a meeting of the worker representatives and top members of the TATA management on 30 June 2004. After an hour-long discussion the management agreed to give the workers their dues.
After negotiations, on 29 July 2004 the TPC management gave the 70 workers their dues. Other than the amount in the settlement a special death allowance of Rs 7.5 lakhs each was given to widows of Anant and Akhtar. As Indira Ganapat Dalvi said, Anjali Dalvi was the last person to accept the cheque from the management.