Judgement

MUDHOLKAR, J. : This is an appeal by special leave against an award made by the court of Industrial Tribunal, West Bengal, Calcutta.

2. The relevant facts are these: The Western India Match Co., (respondent) has got a factory with an office attached thereto in Alambazar, which is a suburb of Calcutta. It has also got a sales office at Calcutta which is situate in the commercial area. Certain disputes arose between the factory employees and the respondent, pursuant upon the presentation of a charter of demands by them to the respondent on January 25, 1957. These demands were seven in number. The demands included enhancement of the dearness allowance and alteration of the basis of computing it. They also included a demand for the revision of pay scales. The respondent was unwilling to concede the demands and thereupon the appellant-union approached the Labour Commissioner, West Bengal. Apparently on his suggestion certain conferences were thereafter held between parties and the Conciliation officer with a view to arrive at a settlement. During those conferences certain counter proposals were put forward by the respondent but they were not accepted by the union. Eventually the