CHENNAI, May 22: Best & Crompton workers who have been accused of non-compliance with the VRS package offered by Polysindo have stated that they were in no way opposing the scheme. While 140 workers have opted for the scheme out of the total number of 275 that Polysindo wanted, workers feel that the scheme would be successful only when Polysindo gives an advance on the VRS, as a gesture.

If Polysindo makes an immediate settlement of the whole amount, perhaps even more than the anticipated number would leave, said Best & Crompton Engineering Employees Union president S Paramasivam.Workers have been seeing the fate of the previous VRS schemes proposed by the company.

In a scheme in 1994, the company was able to settle only 125 wokers out of the 250 who opted to leave. In 1996, another 140 were persuaded to retire. Here, these workers were not given a lump sum, but a monthly interest of 20 per cent was offered till such time the principal was paid. (The VRS has not been settled yet).

Now, with Polysindo offering one more scheme, the workers are feeling more uncertain than ever. More than the figure of Rs 1.40 lakh in the settlement, some bona fide action would have established Polysindo's credentials in the mind of the workers, Paramasivam said.

The workers would like dues to be paid to the previous batches waiting in cue, or have a token sum paid to all who have opted for the scheme rather than a wait till June 30. The workers want to talk directly to Polysindo representatives and be reassured as to what the group intends doing.All the workers are aware that if the company has to survive, workers will have to leave. But the workers do not want to be left in the lurch and this is where Polysindo can reassure them.

The current management has done its best to lose confidence in the minds of the workers by sidelining them in the matter of rehabilitation.

The current management under KVR Balakrishnan (whole-time director) fobbed off attempts to introduce workers to the Polysindo group. According to the workers, he said that the group was not interested in meeting them till the takeover was final. Workers felt that the group was anyway negotiating with institutions and banks and there was no harm if the group met the workers of a company it was planning to take over.

The workers also felt bitter that the VRS issue was such a rushed affair. Talks took place in March-end and the matter was settled without useful discussions on lack of time.

``Though Polysindo made it clear in November that it wanted workers to leave, the current management felt other issues were more important. It took us for granted, it did not give us time for a phased planning of VRS. The current management even fixed the earlier VRS levels with Polysindo without discussing the matter with us,'' Paramasivam said.

The result was that Polysindo decided on its investment limits and got annoyed at the suggestion of hikes which took place subsequently. Direct interaction with the Polysindo group would have avoided considerable misunderstanding, and even now it is not too late, workers felt.

Workers have completely lost faith in the current management, after the recent closure of units. The management has proved counter-productive in its attempts to persuade the union by this measure. A closure at this stage would imply no payment of salaries for April, May and June.

Till such time the workers have to manage their families and education fees of their children (which takes place in June). Despite being very cooperative in the past when the company started sliding, the workers have never gone on strike or taking to the streets. A lot of monetary sacrifices were made by the workers. The workers have also represented the company as a body to ICICI in Mumbai, pleading for a nod to the company's revival.

Now when legitimate fears are being raised about Polysindo commitment, the current management was letting them down further, they feel. The management's notice reads that if Polysindo withdraws in the last minute and the company goes to BIFR, all those who opted for VRS would have to rejoin in July.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.