Judgement

MITTER, J. : This is an appeal by special leave from an award of the Third Industrial Tribunal, West Bengal, dated September 14, 1963. The appellants are four public limited companies all separately registered under the Indian Companies Act and all carrying on business in the same premises at Belur in the district of Howarh, the respondents being two unions, viz., NISCO Karmachari Sangha, Belur and Howrah and Belur Iron and Steel Workers Union, Howrah. National Iron and Steel Co Ltd., was engaged in the business of steel rolling and steel casting. Britannia Building and Iron Co Ltd. was engaged in steel fabrications work while National Screw and Wire Products was engaged in the manufacture of wires and nails. Tatanagar Foundry Co. Ltd. carried on the business of manufacturing cast-iron sleepers for railways. By an order, dated August 25, 1959, the Government of West Bengal made a reference under S. 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 of what was described as an industrial dispute between "Messrs. National Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., and their allied Concerns, viz., Tatanagar Foundry Co. Ltd., Britannia Building and Iron Co. Ltd., and National Screw and Wire Products Ltd.