IPCL Employees' Association Secretary J N Mazmudar said several employees began a relay fast on Tuesday and the agitation will be intensified further if IPCL management goes ahead with the merger plan.
On March 10, the boards of directors of RIL and IPCL had approved the scheme merger. RIL's associate companies hold 47.3 per cent of IPCL's equity share capital.
"The agitating employees oppose the merger of IPCL with RIL because it would not protect the interests of the employees working in Vadodra," he said. RIL acquired equity shares of IPCL in June 2002 after the Centre announced disinvestment of the petrochemicals major.
Mazmudar, while talking to PTI here, alleged that IPCL management was using "pressure tactics" on its 5,500 employees to opt for voluntary separation scheme.
"But despite coercion from the management, a majority of them have not opted for it contrary to the claim that over 2,000 have opted for the scheme after its announcement this year," he said.
IPCL management had announced three VSS schemes in 2003, 2005 and 2007 - after the divestment, which has been opted by about 4,500 employees so far.
Mazmudar claimed that family members of many employees, who opted for VSS, have approached him requesting to help in withdrawing their applications from the scheme.
"This indicates how IPCL management pressurised them to opt for this scheme saying it had offered a 'handsome package'," the employees' union president said.
He also came down heavily on the management's "rotational transfer policy" and the proposed transfer of 1,200 employees to Reliance's SEZ at Jamnagar.
"What prevents the management in framing the rotational policy after consulting the employees and their unions?" Mazmudar asked.
However, sources in IPCL management said "the rotational transfers and the transfer of 1,200 employees are in line with the terms of employment and also keeping in view the requirement of business."
The people from around 12 villages located around IPCL have formed a united forum opposing the rotational transfers as many of those villagers' lands were acquired for setting up the complex 45 year ago, Mazmudar said.
They have also sought assistance of BJP MLA Dilubha Chudasma, who represents them in the Gujarat assembly to negotiate with the IPCL management on their demands.
