Management Case: The Tale of Three Union Presidents

Abstract

The case relates to a chemical company engaged in the manufacture of chemicals with a turnover of Rs. 500 crores. The company has gone through three trade union presidents each with his own style of working. To start with, the trade union was a non-political organization not influenced by any external pressures. Ravikumar as the trade union President has rendered commendable service to the workers, he is quite popular with all the employees and looks forward to become the President of the trade union sixth time in the Silver Jubilee year of the company. However, Anton became the President in the pre-jubilee year as there was nobody to contest the elections. There is unfortunate confrontation for which Ravikumar alone was not responsible. Bala becomes the next elected trade union President as Ravikumar does not contest the elections. The case leads several issues for discussion as to why Anton and Bala failed as union leaders and if the trade union leadership style is responsible for management to vary its approach.