Reg. no. 32/JHU/2012-13

SOCIETY FOR STUDENT MESS SERVICES, PILANI (Registered Under Rajasthan Societies Act, 1958)

SSMS Office, Vidya Vihar Campus, BITS Pilani

Ref. no. SSMS/1/26-01-2013 26th

January 2013

Official Communiqué

1. Summary:

It has come to our notice that the mess workers may be going on an indefinite strike from 26th

January 2013 onwards.

They have given a set of demands, each of which the students are ready to consider, but they

refuse to acknowledge the Society as their employers.

Given below is a brief explanation of the current situation, made amidst preparations for

an impending strike.

2. Brief Background:

Since 1973, the students have been the sole employers of the mess workers and have been

handling all the mess affairs. The welfare of the workers has been our foremost concern to date.

They are paid dues and allowances which far exceed the pay of most workers in a similar

working environment in the food catering business.

In July 2012, a formal body called the Society for Student Mess Services was formed to

standardize the mess system.

They refuse to adhere to SSMS norms simply because of the misinformation given by a few

influential people amongst them. Their primary fear is:

1. SSMS will be dissolved at a later point of time, and hence their jobs are at risk.

2. SSMS will be transferred to a third party.

We have repeatedly tried to alleviate this fear and are ready to guarantee their job with the

students. Even after the huge show of support from the students last semester, they continue to

pursue their own demands.

3. Why are the mess workers going on strike?

1. They haven’t been paid their Educational and Medical Allowances for the past three months.

2. Five of the assistant managers (people who operate the computer for extras) have been

terminated and have not received their salary for the past three months.

4. Why have they not been paid?

They haven’t filled the requisite forms given to them by SSMS. Without these forms, the Society

has no knowledge about their dependents. For legal reasons, there is no way the Society can

grant them the allowances without them agreeing to sign on these forms.

However, all workers who have submitted their forms have received their Education and

Medical allowances as per the guidelines set by the Society.

Moreover, all workers apart from those who have been terminated have been paid their salaries

in full.

5. Why were the Assistant Managers fired?

Due to pressure from the influential few, they were forced to flout our transfer orders. Despite

being given repeated warnings, they did not appear before the Enquiry Committee. After three

separate warnings including a public notice in a local newspaper, they refused to turn up and

hence we had no option but to terminate their employment.

6. How do we take them back?

Once terminated, they are expected to give a written appeal to the Council for their

reinstatement.

At present, after repeated negotiations, they have given a written appeal but still refuse to sign on

their reinstatement letter.

The Society is ready to take them back, but, as mentioned earlier, cannot stray from the legal

processes.

7. What is expected from the students?

We have tried our best to make alternative arrangements for food from tomorrow onwards.

Breakfast is likely to be provided to your rooms (bread, butter and tea). Lunch and dinner

arrangements will be communicated in short notice.

We understand that there will be a few difficulties and we hope that the students fully cooperate

and stand by the Society.

If there any doubts, please contact the undersigned.

Sriram Jayaraman Angad Raghavan Anshul Sharma

Secretary, SSMS Member, Governing Council Vice President, SSMS

+91 8742034584 +91 7891968714 +91 7891173453