Q1. It was 9.30 a.m. when two trucks brought some large crates to the factory. Everyone saw the truck crew unloading the boxes quickly, leave them piled near the gate of the stores department and drive away. Ratan, a worker, watched and approached the supervisor of the factory and pointed to the boxes. The supervisor stopped, shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Ratan came across another worker who asked: "What's in the boxes?" "I don't know". was the reply. "and the supervisor doesn't know either or at least, he doesn't want to tell me. Ratan went over his work but continued to wonder: "What could be in those boxes? And why does not the supervisor want to tell us? Maybe it is new machines say, that is probably what is, those new automated machines. All you have to do is push the button and the machine does the rest. There won't be many jobs in the factory if these machines are installed." Ratan became more nervous. He got up and went over to the water cooler where two other workers were gossipping: "The supervisor doesn't want to tell us what is in those crates because it is new automatic machinery. That will mean fewer jobs for us." Ratan saw fear than anger creep across the workers' faces. Ratan had a throwback in the very moment. Just a few months ago, Ratan was sitting on a bench near the rest shed provision of the factory when the supervisor was looking into the allotment sheet for overtime work for the forthcoming week. Ratan said to the supervisor "I have completed my hours of work normal plus overtime for this month. I Attempted saw fear than anger creep across the workers' faces. Ratan had a throwback in the very moment. Just a few months ago, Ratan was sitting on a bench near the rest shed provision of the factory when the supervisor was looking into the allotment sheet for overtime work for the forthcoming week. Ratan said to the supervisor "I have completed my hours of work normal plus overtime for this month. I should not be given more allotment in the next week's production slot." Supervisor replied "Even I have put in enormous number of hours together with workers, such things do happen when festive season is around, that is how the business cycle runs and accordingly the production schedules, but I never complaint of any fatigue etc. So, we shall see what can be done. Anyhow, the agenda on the cards is to also involve contractual workers to complete the target on time. So, you may get a longer rest." Ratan felt that he noticed a clever unpleasant smile on the face of supervisor while he explained all that to Ratan. Ratan told all this to the workers he encountered near the water cooler. Words spread like wildfire, soon no one was working, all were talking and their voices grew angrier and angner. Finally, a worker stood on his bench and shouted. "If this is the way the management treats us, then let's teach them a lesson. If they fire us, we'll fire the boxes." The next morning some workers hit the window panes and threw stones at the officers' cabins. The others held the placard demanding answers for this injustice to workers. Just then the Production executive came running and stood in the middle of the men. "What's the matter? What's happened?" "You are trying to replace us with new machines." "What new machinery?" angrier. Finally, a worker stood on his bench and shouted. "If this is the way the management treats us, then let's teach them a lesson. If they fire us, we'll fire the boxes." The next morning some workers hit the window panes and threw stones at the officers cabins. The others held the placard demanding answers for this injustice to workers. Just then the Prodaction executive came running and stood in the middle of the men. "What's the matter? What's happened?" "You are trying to replace us with new machines." "What new machinery?" "The new machinery in those boxes." "Oh, my God! That's equipment for our new plant. We're only keeping these here for a few days." Everyone looked very foolish and tempers quickly cooled. "You should have told us", one man said dejectedly. While Ratan quietly slipped away, the ones who raised a havoc at the factory by damaging property, were subjected to disciplinary action committee who found them guilty and hence dismissed them and a case was filed against them in labour court. Questions 0 What is the problem in this case? Who is responsible for this episode? What caused the selective perception of the Workers? 15 marks] (m) What could have been done to avoid the situation to worsen to this extent? How the scenario has impacted the effectiveness at workplace and the relations between management and workers? [5 marks]