the sharing of information and the raising of issues are happening almost real time with the unionmumbai trade unions are sharing an unusual bonhomie with the auto industry during these covid times with many companies taking them on board for decisionmakingunlike earlier many unions are seen empathising with the auto companies as they trim costs and keep volumes low to survive at a time when low demand is threatening the survival of the industrymeet dilip pawar 62 an unassuming yet powerful trade union leader of companies including bajaj auto vw general motors mm in the punechakan belt of maharashtra pawars importance and role has grown multifold as many of these auto companies are getting the trade unions on board in their decisionmaking process advt labour unions once at loggerheads with the management seem to have a better sense of realism today say experts unions realise that in times when demand generation is tough given the recessionary mood they cannot expect the management to work wonders which has resulted in both sides empathising with each other to tide over the crisis rc bhargava chairman of maruti suzuki says unions realise that confrontations with management is not going to help this has resulted in an open channel of communication between the management and its unions usually on routine matters communication is through weekly meetings while matters of business importance are communicated on a monthly basis today companies are harnessing the digital platform for mass communication with employees and interaction with unions is scheduled every two days for updates said rajeshwar tripathi chro at mahindra all the 12 plants of which have a unionas part of reskilling unions have been working with the management on ways to raise productivity quality and cut costs while the unionmanagement relations have generally been supportive and collaborative earlier postcovid it has become a relationship of working together to restore business operations and ensuring the safety of people as all plants are operational now adds tripathi experts say manpower deployed in the auto sector is on a contract basis and the unions have been supporting their management to streamline workersat tata motors union leaders share the stage including town halls with top executives as members of various governing forums with fears of job losses and salary cuts we are more supportive of the management especially as they make us a part of the plants decision making said shyam sunder singh general secretary tata motors workers union lucknow plant advt this plant started partial production midmay with 33 workforce producing 2530 vehicles as against 400 daily during peak production the workers know the challenges of the lockdown and are producing only as per demand adds singhthe sharing of information and the raising of issues are happening almost real time with the union said a chro who did not wish to be quotedpawar who represents shramik ekta mahasangh which has 60 unions says it is better to be supportive of the management as in such circumstances companies are paying our