Ratan Tata ensured employees, their families were well taken care of: Tata Sons' N Chandrasekaran

Tata Sons chairperson N Chandrasekaran recollected an incident from 2017 when Tata Motors was embroiled in a dispute with the employees’ union over wages and Ratan Tata took up the responsibility to resolve it.

Anybody who met Ratan Tata came away with a story about his humanity, warmth, and dreams for India, Tata Sons chairperson N Chandrasekaran wrote in a moving tribute dedicated to his late mentor on Monday, who died on October 9 at the age of 86.

He also highlighted how the legendary industrialist and philanthropist took care of not only his employees, but also their families.

Honouring Tata's life and legacy, Chandrasekaran recollected an incident from 2017 when Tata Motors was embroiled in a dispute with the employees’ union over wages and Tata took up the responsibility to resolve it.

"Just after I became chairman, I was introduced to a situation within Tata Motors which involved a dispute between the company and the employees’ union over wages for two years. In March ‘17, Mr. Tata and I met the union leaders together," he wrote on LinkedIn. "During the meeting, Mr. Tata relayed three messages: he regretted the delay in finding a resolution. He explained that the company was passing through hardship. And both of us committed that this dispute would be concluded within a fortnight."

Chandrasekaran said that Tata was squarely focused on making sure employees were well taken care of—not just to resolve the dispute, but to ensure they and their families’ well-being. It was a perspective that reflected on employees across all Tata Group employees. 'It is something that has shaped a number of our leaders across the Group," he said. "There really was no one like him."

Recalling his time with Ratan Tata, the Tata Sons chairperson said that their relationship with Ratan Tata grew over the years, "first focusing on business and eventually evolving into a more personal connection."

“We discussed interests ranging from cars to hotels, but when our conversations turned to other matters—those of daily life—he would show how much he noticed and felt. He was someone to be discovered, over time and through experience,” he said.