NOV 04: As workshops go, this one was unusual. Over 40 Class IV staffers of Indian Airlines known for their habitual absenteeism were brought together and told of the importance of attending work. And all this was done by the employees' union, with the management offering infrastructural support.Regional secretary (western region), Air Corporations Employees Union (ACEU), Gajanan Gole, said: ``We took over as office-bearers of the union in July this year. By September, we got to know of a large number of absentees. When I say absentees, I mean those taking unauthorised leave (leave without pay). Some of them had been already chargesheeted by the management. Instead of simply fighting for their cause, we thought of conducting a workshop for them with the aim of motivating them back to work.''The two-day workshop, held on Monday and Tuesday, brought forth many confessions. Among the reasons cited for absenteeism were those as straight as ``bad habit'' and ``strife at home,'' along with candid admissions like ``I am responsible'' and ``I have been lazy.''Subhash Tulsidas Prabhu (43), one of the participants in the workshop, who has put in over 20 years of service, said he now regretted the fact that he had to attend such a workshop so late in his career, but said he found it useful. ``I stay beyond Palghar, so I have to wake up at the crack of dawn in order to reach office on time. The distance, along with frequent sickness in the family, made me an absentee. But due to this workshop, I have realised that if I work more regularly, I can give a better deal to my family,'' he said.Similarly, Shantaram Shankar Choudhury (42) and Pradeep Bagwe (33) said: ``Never did we realise the importance of our work. For the first time somebody has told us we are important to the company. The work we put in matters to the company.''Psychologist Maya Gandhi, who conducted Tuesday's workshop, said: ``I was particularly enthused about this workshop as it was organised by the union. Regular workshops or one-to-one interaction between the staff and the management goes a long way towards bringing people to work.''Chairman of ACEU (western region) Anil Menon maintained, ``The union had discussions with both the management and the absentees prior to the workshop. We told the absentees they have to help us help them by being attentive to the workshop and their work. Henceforth, we will not stand for those who refuse to do that.'' He said the union, through its representatives in various departments, would keep tabs on the participants in the two-day workshop. ``We will also have a dialogue with the management for holding such workshops regularly,'' he said.A senior Airlines official said -``The workshop has been first of its kind and purely an union initiative. The managment has pitched in with the necessary infrastructural support.''The ACEU has 17,000 members nationwide and nearly 3,600 in Mumbai alone. Top
