massive mumbai rally

1 JANUARY 2012
Rs.3
FMRAI N EWS
Vol. XI No. 6 KOLKATA
Organ of Federation of Medical And Sales Representatives’ Associations of India
60-A Charu Avenue • Kolkata-700 033 • Phone : (033)24242862 • Fax : (033)24244943 • www.fmrai.org • E-mail : fmrainews@gmail.com, fmrainews@indiatimes.com
MASSIVE MUMBAI RALLY
for Legal Identity and Recognition
Tripartite Meeting Called on FMRAI’s 5-Point Demands
On 27 December, thousands of medical and sales representatives marched from Ranibagh of Byculla
to historic Azad Maidan in the city of Mumbai for a massive rally before the Government of Maharashtra
demanding recognition of their legal identity by effective enforcement of SPE Act for all sales promotion
employees, by whatever name they are called.
FMRAI's delegation submittting memorandum
to Hassan Mushriff. (L to R-Secretary, T. K Rao,
General Secretary D. P. Dubey and President
R. Viswanathan
Coming from all over India, field workers
of 76 Maharashtra-based organized sector
pharma companies assembled for the
procession at Ranibagh which was flagged
off by CITU’s all India vice president K. L. Bajaj.
Marching five kilometers thorough main
streets of Mumbai city the procession
culminated into a rally and public meeting at
Azad Maidan which was addressed by K. L.
Bajaj; CITU’s Maharashtra state secretary P.
R. Krishnan; state government employees’
federation’s president R. G. Karnik; Nicholas
Employees Union president C. V. Chavan
and by FMRAI’s leaders.
A delegation of FMRAI met the labour
minister Hassan Mushriff and submitted
memorandum. The memorandum contains
5-point demands to the government, which
were adopted in the resolution of its national
working committee meeting, including to (i)
ensure issuing legally amended appointment
letters in Form-A under the Act to all existing
and future differently named sales promotion
employees without altering their service and
working conditions; (ii) give direction to the
pharma companies to suspend sales
promotion work till compliance of the law; (iii)
urgently call state tripartite meeting and give
the employers one month’s time for
implementation of the provisions of SPE Act;
(iv) failing which the Government should
prosecute them and (v) constitute state
tripartite industrial standing committee for sales
promotion employees in Central government
pattern.
Responding to the demands, the labour
minister announced calling state tripartite
meeting with representatives of 76 organized
sector pharma companies of Maharashtra and
of FMRAI. The meeting was initially fixed on
12 January which is now postponed to 9
February in view of municipal election.
In preparation of March to Mumbai, countrywide campaign was launched with wearing of
demand badge on 7 December, public
distribution of handbills, mass signature
campaign, holding of trade union conventions
in districts, submission of memoranda to
Maharashtra chief minister through district
government authorities etc.
After successful 17 August country-wide
field workers’ strike, FMRAI’s working
committee gave call- ‘Chalo Mumbai – March
to Mumbai’ - the commercial capital of India,
citadel of pharma industry, fort of drug MNCs,
centre of FMRAI’s council movement and the
area of major confrontation between the
managements and field workers of the country.
Relay Strike in Alkem
illegal wage
cuts and
arbitrary
deductions in
expense
statements.
Striking
workers staged
dharnas before
company’s
establishment
in depots / c&f
At Kolkata
Marketing field activities in
Alkem laboratories was completely
halted during 9-13 January
country-wide state-wise relay strike
by Alkem field workers demanding
negotiation and settlement of their
long pending charter of demands
pending since August, 2008; for
grievance redressal forum;
appointment letters in Form-A; and
protesting against victimizations,
places and gate meetings were
held which were addressed by
council, state and FMRAI leaders.
Initial report states total strike in
West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand, Kerala, Andhra
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Jammu-Kashmir, Tamilnadu,
Himachal Pradesh and successful
in Karnataka, Bihar-Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh-Chattisgarh,
See page-4
FMRAI NEWS
JANUARY 2012
Editorial
Mumbai Rally – Before and After
It was the second historic rally of FMRAI at Mumbai on 27 December, 2011.
Exactly 14 years before, on 29 December, 1997 FMRAI staged its first historic rally
in Mumbai. Both these rallies- the rally in December 1997 and the rally in December,
2011- have significance in the field workers movement in evolving and advancing
its trade union tactics in the current situation.
Beginning in 1996, FMRAI held its zonal protest rallies against the new type of
attacks following the new liberal policy drive of the Government of India and readjusting
their positions by multinational and Indian drug monopolies. As the situation was
existing in 1997, FMRAI’s conference in 1998 in Kollam explained the situation as
fast changing, difficult and complex for the field workers and their movement. In such
a situation the conference came to the conclusion that FMRAI’s old tactics in respect
of general movement and council movement were insufficient to meet the new
situation and the new challenges. It is in that context, which Mumbai rally of 1997
focused, FMRAI broadly prepared its first Agenda of Action as the current trade
union tactics at that time which continues to remain the basic tactical approach in the
present phase of neo-liberal drive. The burning common problems of the field
workers were further concretized in Bengaluru GCM in 2002 identifying the area of
confrontation and resistance as three burning problems i.e. rapid elimination of
unionized sections through illegal sales officers category; ‘sales’ as a part of job
condition connected with disciplinary issues and work systems not commensurate to
workers status with increasing workload replacing bilateralism, as the basis of day
to day work input. With these formulations, FMRAI reoriented its organization and
movement with rapid advancement despite increasing attacks. To make it more
precise with time-bound action plan, FMRAI prepared its annual work plan known
as Road Map for concrete work in different areas of movement and organization.
This is the significance of historic Mumbai rally of 1997 and before this Mumbai rally
of 2011.
Mumbai rally, 2011 has its own background and was a natural outcome of
series of developments. Since 2010, policy related movement developed significantly
– holding national tripartite meeting re-affirming and extension of SPE Act with strong
ground to strengthen it further. The issue was raised in the Parliament and with six
state governments. The major state in respect of pharma industry which is the trend
setter is the Maharashtra and Mumbai its capital. On record, the government of
Maharashtra fully agrees on FMRAI’s position in respect of appointment letter in
Form A to all existing and new sales promotion employees, by whatever name they
are called. State governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand
accepted that position and on that basis, initiated prosecution.
Appointment letter in Form A is the legal identity of the sales promotion employees
and is a central piece of legal recognition. Provisions of SPE Act and Rules and also
other labour laws revolve round this central piece. Hence, the struggle between the
pharma companies and FMRAI, the field workers and the managements, have
concentrated in this area. Despite setbacks for the drug companies, their exposure
and even prosecution; they are carrying on their desperate attempts to implement
their own line because pharma industry’s sales promotion strategy depends on
their very basic understanding that the sales promotion employees shall be out side
the purview of any labour law; that, their job profile shall be casual in nature and
that, the sales promotion employees shall always be under threats of loosing their
jobs. High attrition rate of the field workers of the country, both in multinational and
Indian sector shoes the very basic formulation of employers’ strategy.
On the other side, the very survival of the field workers, as a profession of sales
promotion employees, their job protection as permanent employees, their protection
under law, their social securities and remuneration depend on their organisational
unity and united battle for legal identity in Form A followed by logical extension to
other provisions of SPE Act.
It is in this context, Mumbai rally in 2011 is potent with future significance.
Maharashtra government is committed to call the tripartite meeting specifically on
these issues of appointment letters in Form A and other provisions of law.
Developments in Mumbai will be trend setter for the country.
The incoming general council meeting of FMRAI has, therefore, the priority
responsibility to determine and implement the future drive of movement of united
councils to complement the efforts with the government and in the legal forums. In the
present context, Mumbai rally 2011 has bestowed responsibility collectively on the
general council members of FMRAI to concentrate the united battle tactics of groupwise council movement and OSG movement aiming at to give the final push to
conclude the agenda with victory of legal identity of the sales promotion employees.
Nonetheless, the significance of the state related movement, be it on legal
notification on 8 hours work, be it photo identity card, be it minimum wages, be it
sales closing etc. each of these complement the main struggle as pointed above. All
these are backed by powerful movement on policy issues.
Let the incoming general council meeting come out concretely its agenda of final
assault on recognition of legal identity of sales promotion employees. Then, and
only then, we can write Mumbai rally 2011 as ‘second historic Mumbai rally of
FMRAI’.
2
STATE NEWS
FMRAI NEWS
l January 2012 l
MAHARASHTRA
Conference of MSMRA
197 delegates from 27 units of MSMRA,
Maharashtra state unit of FMRAI, attended its 56th
conference at Nanded during 9-11 December. A
colourful procession was taken out from Dawa
Bazar culminating into a rally in front of collector’s
office which was addressed by FMRAI general
secretary D. P. Dubey and CITU’s Nanded district
president Vijay Gabhane.
After welcome speech of reception
committee’s chairman Vijay Gabhane, the
conference was inaugurated by district CITU
secretary M. S. Shaikh. Nanded chemist &
druggist association president Ashok Gunjiwar;
leaders of SFI, other trade unions, Sanskruitik
Aaghadi and Nanded unit secretary of MSMRA
also addressed.
46 delegates participated in the discussion
on the general secretary and treasurer’s reports.
Both reports were adopted unanimously after
discussion.
The conference elected 17 office bearers and
30 working committee members with S. R.
Nalavde as president, D. M. Deshpande as
general secretary and Vishal Joshi as treasurer.
Closing session was addressed by
Maharashtra state CITU president and ex- MLA
Narsaiya Adam calling upon the delegates for
success of 27 December Mumbai rally and 28
February industrial strike. The conference
adopted a resolution appreciating the hard work
done by the members of Nanded unit for the
success of the conference.
UTTAR PRADESH - UTTARAKHAND
Blood Donation Camp in Varanasi
UPMSRA’s Varanasi unit organized a blood
donation camp on 20 and 21 November in
Banaras Hindu University Hospital Blood Bank.
UPMSRA members were joined by members
from DYFI, of other organisations and some local
people. Prof. (Dr.) K. K. Gupta inaugurated the
camp.
Altogether 48 units of blood were collected.
The camp was widely covered by print and
electronic media.
MADHYA PRADESH - CHHATTISGARH
MPMSRU’s New Unit at Khargone
A new unit at Khargone was inaugurated
by MPMSRU on 4 December by a senior field
worker
Chandrapal Tomer delivering
introductory speech and by general secretary
of MPMSRU Shailendra Sharma addressing
the local field workers on this occasion.
FMRAI’s general secretary D. P. Dubey also
participated through tele-conferencing from
Kolkata congratulated the field workers of
Khargone. Jyoti Sharma also addressed the
participants. The meeting elected Sunish
Dharne as president, Neeraj Gupta as vice
president, Bharat Wagh as secretary, Prakash
Gupta and Lalit Dongre as joint secretaries and
Ashok Patel as the treasurer of the newly formed
unit.
KERALA
Strike in Orchid in Kerala
Demanding of the management to
implement the agreement with Orchid Kerala
council committee on reinstatement of a
Kottayam based field worker, against
deduction in expense statements and for
removal of hardship created due to email
reporting, 37 Orchid field workers of Kerala
struck work and staged dharna in front of the
company’s depot at Kuttanelur, Trichur on 7
December. 60 members of KMSRA, Trichur
unit joined them in solidarity. CITU’s Ollur area
secretary K. P. Paul inaugurated the dharna.
KMSRA’s secretary K. Venugopal, treasurer
K. O. Vincent, Trichur district president K. V.
Sugathan and state committee member U.
Satheeshkumar addressed the gate meeting
participants. District secretary S Gopalakrishan
presided.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
KMRA affiliates to FMRAI
In a general body meeting on 12 December
and in presence of about 450 field workers from
Srinagar and Sopore, the leaders of Kashmir
Medical Representatives’ Association (KMRA)
declared to affiliate the
organisation to FMRAI. This
largely attended meeting was
also attended and addressed
by president and vice president
of Jammu, presidents and
secretaries of Srinagar and
Sopore, CITU’s Kashmir state
general secretary Ohm Prakash
and PCMSRU’s working
committee member Sanjeev
Mahajan. FMRAI’s secretary R.
P. Singh and working
committee member Amitava
Guha attended, addressed and
guided the meeting assuring KMRA and its
members full support from FMRAI for building
up a strong state unit in Kashmir. See page-3
FMRAI NEWS
COUNCILS
Purposeful Meeting
in Bharat Serum
Responding to FMRAI’s letters, senior executives of
Bharat Serum and Vaccines Ltd, Mumbai – its general
managers Sashi Chaudhry of HRD and D. P. Sathpaty of
marketing and sales - had purposeful discussion with
FMRAI’s leaders – its joint general secretary Alok Banerjee
and secretary Partha Rakshit along with all India convener
Sandeep Ghosh and joint all India convener Verghese
Pokaddan - at Kolkata on 15 December.
Though agenda of the meeting was on unilateral change
by the management in the travel policy of the field workers
causing hardship and loss to them; the discussion also
included other areas like grievance committee, collectively
negotiated service conditions, implementation of SPE Act
particularly issuing appointment letters in Form-A and bonus.
It was agreed to discuss these in future. In respect of travel
policy, it was agreed that FMRAI would send proposals
considering the prevailing pattern in the industry
accommodating management’s concern of safety of the field
workers on long road traveling and finalizing the same in
the next meeting.
Understanding in
Intas
After discussion with OSRU leadership at Cuttack and
FMRAI leadership at Kolkata and as per mutual
understanding, the vice president – HRD (field) of Intas gave
a letter to the affected field worker of the company at
Bhubaneshwar informing him about 7 days ‘off work’
(suspension) of the culprit manager and requesting him to
close the issue legally.
65 Intas field workers of all divisions in Orissa went on
lightening strike on 18 November protesting against physical
attack on a field worker by a manager (FMRAI News,
December, 2011). In solidarity with Orissa Intas field workers
and in response to FMRAI’s call of staging demonstration
before company’s establishments in all state capitals on 2
December, demonstrations were staged at Ernakulam,
Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Negotiation in Dey’s
Negotiation on the 6th charter of demands of the field
workers though progressed, yet differences exist. So far 6
rounds of discussion took place, last being 14-15 December.
In the meantime, Dey’s All India Council (AIC) meeting, held
on 16 December decided to hold conventions of west and
south zone field workers on 22 January and of east and
north zone field workers on 5 February to review the
organizational position and for its further consolidation. The
AIC meeting was participated by 21 AIC members including
9 from all India committee and 12 state council conveners.
Again Notice to
Zydus
The deputy commissioner of labour-I, Hyderabad,
issued once again notice to Zydus Cadila on 31
December to report compliance within a week on
maintaining registers under Section 7, Rule 23; pay
scales with annual rate of increment and dearness
allowances are not maintained in the appointment
order as prescribed in Form-A, maintaining registers
in Form-C and Form-E; for wrongful computation of
privilege leave entitlement violating Rule 14 and for
not providing weekly off day in violation of Rule 7
under the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions
of Service) Act, 1976. The notice further directed the
management to report compliance failing which legal
actions might be initiated against the company.
Earlier, on 16 December 2010, for violation of SPE
Act, a criminal complaint was filed in the XII th
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court,
Hyderabad, STC no. 818/2010 where the
Zydus management admitted guilt and paid a penalty.
Strange Case of
Feroz Zafar of USV
A senior field worker of USV, joint convener of USV state
council and president of Bhopal unit of MPMSRU Feroz Zafar
rejected management’s individual offer of money while
FMRAI’s charter of demands is pending. Since then he started
getting mysterious communication from USV management.
He received 2 letters from the management both dated 10
November, 2011; both signed by the same HR manager and
both concerning his service conditions.
By one letter management informed him to ignore the
direction of the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Bhopal of
the Government of Madhya Pradesh and proceed on transfer
to Tamilnadu. Strangely, by the second letter under heading
Full and Final Settlement the management informed Zafar
that his resignation letter was accepted by the company and
that full and final settlement of his accounts with the company
would be initiated shortly.
Perplexed, Zafar filed a police complaint with
Hanumanganj police station at Bhopal stating that he did not
submit resignation letter to the company and that it was a
forgery case where some persons in the management was
involved. Police assured investigation and filing FIR under
specific charges.
JANUARY 2012
In preparation of
March to Mumbai
Memorandum submission at Gwalior
STATE NEWS
ODISHA
Demonstration at Cuttack
Free medical camp at
Balasore
OSRU’s Balasore district committee organized a free
medical camp in a school in a remote village Sindhia in
Balasore district in memory of late Comrade Bhagyalochan
Sahu, a field worker of Torrent Pharma and a member of
OSRU. This was 7th Bhagyalochan Swastha Mela organized
since his death eight years ago. 7 important doctors of
Balasore town including IMA’s district secretary attended this
camp. More than seven hundred patients were treated in the
camp with free medicines. 27 members of the OSRU
unit attended the programme and served the patients. Family
members of Comrade Bhagyalochan Sahu and members of
Barabati Jawan Club also participated in the camp and
extended their whole hearted support and cooperation. Tree
plantation was undertaken in the school campus in memory
of Comrade Sahu.
NORTH EAST
Blood donation camp at
Jorhat and Sibsagar
40 members of Jorhat unit and 15 members of Sibsagar
unit donated their blood on 1 December to commemorate 4th
anniversary of 8 hours work in Assam. Organised by the
Jorhat district committee of CRU, the programme at Jorhat
Medical and Hospital was attended by the deputy
superintendent of the medical college, head of the
department of pathology and in charge of the blood bank. All
of them congratulated CRU members for the noble cause.
Jorhat drug dealers association’s secretary and an eminent
pharma stockist also donated blood during the occasion.
Sibsagar unit, also under Jorhat district committee, organized
the programme at Sibsagar on the same day.
Demonstration in front
of district court
More than 50 members of Jorhat district committee of
CRU organized a demonstration on 27 December in front of
the district court protesting against a notorious Act of the
Assam government to merge 13 courts, including the labour
court and the industrial tribunal with district and session
courts. The Assam government enacted this through a
notification ignoring peoples’ opinion. It is apprehended that
this unilateral and undemocratic decision of the Assam
government will adversely affect the interests of the workers
and common people.
Signature campaign at Shyamnager, West Bengal
CONDOLENCE
Comrade Vijin
Comrade Vijin (26), a field worker of Torrent
Pharmaceuticals and a member of KMSRA’s
Kottayam unit passed away on 21 October following
a massive cardiac arrest at Ahmedabad during
company’s training programme. He left behind his
parents and sister.
FMRAI mourns the premature death and conveys
heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family of
Comrade Vijin.
Comrade Arpit Rastogi
Comrade Arpit Rastogi (23), a field worker of
Biochem and a member of Moradabad unit of
UPMSRA, died in a road accident on 26 October.
Comrade Rastogi was traveling with his friend in a
two wheeler and both of them died on the spot. He
left behind his parents and a brother.
FMRAI mourns the premature death of Comrade
Arpit Rastogi and conveys heartfelt condolence to
his bereaved family members.
Comrade Anurag
Gautam
Comrade Anurag Gautam, a field
worker working in Micro and a member
of Rewa unit of MPMSRU met with a
tragic road accident and died on spot
on 29 December. He left behind his
infant daughter, wife and parents.
FMRAI mourns the premature
death of Comrade Anurag Gautam and sends
heartfelt condolence to his bereaved family
members.
3
JANUARY 2012
Registration No. WBENG/2001/6430
FMRAI NEWS
Dharna before
USV head office
369 USV field workers, including 10 women field workers, coming from different
parts of the country staged a massive day long dharna in front of the head office of
USV Ltd. at Govandi, Mumbai on 26 December. Gate meeting was addressed by
FMRAI’s general secretary D. P. Dubey, its president and all India convener R.
Viswanathan, secretary R. P. Singh, working committee members T. V. Sridhar and
Vivek Sawant and USV’s Delhi state convener Seema Bajaj. Successful dharna
was staged in protest against violation of law and agreement and other unfair
labour practices of the management
After their failed attempt to prevent the dharna by calling field workers’ meetings
in all zones, cancellation of leave, intimidation on phone etc, and being afraid of
facing the agitating employees during dharna and the reality in respect of violation
of law: the management deserted from their own head office handing it over to a
large contingent of police, on payment. The memorandum was pasted in absence
of the receiver.
Same evening, an all India convention of USV field workers was also held. 27
members participated in the discussion. The convention suggested future
intensification of agitation.
USV field workers are pursuing their demands legally and agitationally including
countrywide successful strike on 24 June. FMRAI lodged complaints with labour
law enforcement authorities of Maharashtra against the management for not issuing
appointment letters in Form-A; against breach of settlement for non-payment of
annual increment and special allowance for three years; against violation of Section
9A of ID Act in respect of unilateral change in service conditions. Different state
units of FMRAI filed petitions before contract labour advisory boards in their
respective states for regularization of jobs of sales promotion employees working
under the contractor - franchises; and against victimizations of leading functionaries
including transfers.
To Strike in
AstraZeneca
All sales promotion employees of
AstraZeneca, named differently, will
resort to a country-wide strike on 25
January demanding appointment letters
in Form-A, against violation of the
understanding of October, 2006 with
regard to annual and gradual increase
in the number of PSRs; against rapid
replacement of PSRs through forcible
and illegal conversion in the so called
officer category, against harassment,
humiliation; against violation of
understanding on travel policy; against
torture of TBMs, SDMs, KAMs and PSRs
and against victimizations.
On that day, OSG platform of FMRAI
along with Astra field workers will stage
demonstrations before the district labour
administration for prosecution of the
management for the violation of the law
and will resort to public campaign
through handbills and posters.
Earlier, FMRAI’s state council sub
committees staged demonstrations
before company’s establishments at
Kolkata, Cuttack, Guwahati, Patna,
Ranchi, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jaipur,
Warrant of arrest
for violation of SPE
Act to M.D. of Astra
A warrant of arrest is issued
against the managing director of
AstraZeneca Anandh Balasundaram to appear before the court of
chief judicial magistrate, Dehradun
on 29 February on the criminal
complaint case No. 1199 of 2011
under Section 9 of SPE Act for
violation of various provisions of the
Act.
Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam,
Vijayawada and Chennai protesting
against forcible conversion and
violations of the understanding.
Relay Strike in Alkem
From page-1
North East region, Orissa, Punjab and
Chandigarh. Ignoring management’s
attempt of creating blockade, dharna
and gate meetings were held at
Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad,
Ernakulam, Lucknow, Ghaziabad,
Dehradun, Jaipur, Guwahati, Nagpur
and Pune. Dharna could not be staged
but gate meetings were held at
Chennai, Madurai and Cuttack as
police denied permission.
Alkem field workers have patiently
been pursuing the legitimate
demands through submission of joint
memoranda, resorted to mass casual
leave and strikes and even made
attempts to open dialogue with the
head office management. Alkem all
India council committee meeting s
called to review and for future course
of action.
Postal Registration No. KOL RMS/106/2010-2012
Council Conference of
Johnson & Johnson
86 delegates representing Johnson &
Johnson field workers from BSSRU,
WBMSRU, UPMSRA, MSMRA, MPMSRU,
GSMRA, APMSRU, KSM&SRA, KMSRA
and TNMSRA attended their 3 rd all India
conference at Mumbai on 26 December
and resolved to strengthen council
movement to defend workers’ rights. The
conference also called upon all Johnson
& Johnson field workers of the country to
actively work and participate in the 28
February strike called by all central trade
unions. Inaugurating the conference,
CITU’s Maharashtra state president K. L.
Bajaj appreciated the role of FMRAI for
uniting the sales promotion employees of
the country for joining the mainstream of
the working class movement and expected
Johnson & Johnson field workers to remain
in the forefront of all struggles of FMRAI.
All India convener S. K. Chowdhury placed
report on which 14 delegates participated
in discussion. Releasing a souvenir on this
occasion FMRAI’s general secretary D. P.
Dubey called to remove organizational
weaknesses and to build powerful
organisation. FMRAI’s joint general
secretary A. K. Banerjee called upon
council members to take active part in the
activities of their local units. FMRAI’s
treasurer Alok Ganguli also attended the
conference. The conference felicitated
zonal convener of west and negotiating
committee member S. K. Soni who is going
to retire shortly. Joint zonal convener of
south Krishnanand gave vote of thanks.
Major Breakthrough
in Franco Indian
In a major breakthrough in pharma
industry on 7 December, negotiation
began with FMRAI’s committee on the
charter of demands for the sales promotion
employees named as Professional Sales
Officers (PSOs) of Diabetix division of
Franco Indian. With this, all, about 800
field workers of all divisions of Franco
Indian, called both as Medical
Representatives and Professional Service
Officers, are accepted as bargainable
employees through negotiated conditions
of service between the management and
the union. Earlier, after mutual discussion,
management absorbed all 120 FMRAI
members of closed subsidiary company
Princep Pharmaceuticals in Main and
Diabetix divisions of Franco Indian.
Franco Indian council also expanded
in Diabetix division, joint all India
conference was held and, for the first time,
charter of demands was submitted for them.
By separate letters, management invited
both the negotiating committees for Main
and Diabetix divisions for negotiation. All
India convener Deepak Bhattacharya, joint
all India convener V. V. Raja and joint
general secretary of FMRAI K. B. Kadam
are common members in both negotiating
committees with Rakesh Pandey,
Sheshnath Tiwary, Santanu Dattagupta
and Jaiganesh for Main division and with
Abhra Chakravorty, T. P. Nikhil, Md. Soeb
Khan and Vikash Misra from Diabetix
division.
FMRAI’s Road Map mandated rapid
expansion of council and its movement in
new companies, new divisions and for
differently named categories particularly
those who are called as sales officers.
There is substantial advancement in
Franco Indian in this regard.
On 5–6 December, meeting was held
between the management and FMRAI’s
consultative committee (grievance
committee). First round of negotiations on
charters of demands were held for Diabetix
division on 7 December and for Main
division on 8-9 December.
In the CC meeting, understanding
was reached that de-pooling-related
problems would be discussed and
resolved locally at Mumbai and Kolkata;
kilometer travel policy would be
discussed in the next meeting; excess
deducted amount for 17 August strike
would be refunded; 4 suspension cases
were also discussed for being resolved
and some other issues were also
discussed and resolved.
Printed by D P Dubey, published by D P Dubey on behalf of Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives’ Associations of India and printed at Satyajug
Employees Co-operative Industrial Society Ltd. 13 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Kolkata-700 072 and published at 60-A, Charu Avenue Kolkata-700 033
EDITOR : D P DUBEY