TELE LABOUR - NFTE

Ernaknlam High Court's Verdict for
change in COD
The petitioner, a registered trade union has filed this writ petition seeking a change
in the code of discipline (COD for short) for conducting a referendum among the
employees of the second respondent for the purpose of giving recognition to trade
unions, According to the petitioner, the management has at present recognized only
two unions.
2. Adv. Saji Varghese who appears for the second respondent submit that, the COD
can be changed only if there is a consensus among all the employees of the second
respondent. The second respondent has no objection to such a change being effected in
the event of there being a consensus. It is the third respondent who has to convene a
meeting of all the trade unions for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is a consensus
among the unions. The second respondent has also stated as follows in the statement
filed in this case:-
"In the meeting on 28-9-2001 the Chief Labour Commissioner who was present clarified
that if there is consensus among the participating Unions for recognition of more
than one Union with minimum of 15% votes, the Ministry of labour could consider the
suggestion with the consent of the Management."
In view of the above statement, it is the Ministry of labour, the first respondent
that has to consider the suggestion with the consent of the management after ascertaining
whether there is a consensus among the unions. For the purpose a meeting
would have to be convened by the third respondent.
3. The senior counsel who appears for the petitioner points out that the 15th respondent
has already filed a counter affidavit putting on record that they have no objection to
the COD being changed. The 10th respondent also does not have any objection. However,
the counsel for the second respondent submit that the views of the other unions would
also have to be ascertained.
4. In view of the above, this writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:i)
The third respondent is directed to convene a meeting of the trade unions of the
employees as well as the management of the second respondent and to ascertain whether
there is a consensus among the unions for effecting changes in the COD for conducting
a referendum for the purpose of recognising the trade unions in the establishment. The
meeting shall be convened as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of
two months of the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
ii) The third respondent is further directed to forward the proceedings of such meeting
if there is a consensus, for the purpose of being considered by the Ministry of Labour
to effect necessary changes in the COD, with the consent of the management.
Tele Labour 2 July, 2012