ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the ‘work situation’ of regular Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) employees with that of its contract labour, and discusses the shop floor relationships that they have with each other. It shows how the division between them is reflected in – and exacerbated by – trade union politics. A more compelling reason for the low level of effort required of many workers is the relatively high level of manning which allows labour to be used with low intensity. Even when large companies run their core operations through a permanent workforce, it clearly makes business sense to hire in casual labour to cope with spikes in demand and do unskilled ancillary jobs only intermittently required. Rumours about total privatisation were circulating; attempts were made to hive off a couple of BSP units, some housing was sold, and the oldest of its sintering plants was being run by Hindustan Steel Construction Limited with contract labour.
