Karnataka - Bangalore   

Toyota Kirloskar Motor declares lockout

Staff Reporter

Workers stick to stand; Labour Commissioner convenes meeting

BANGALORE: Close on the heels of the snap strike by its employees, Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Sunday declared an indefinite lockout of its Bidadi unit near here. The employees struck work on Friday demanding that three dismissed employees be reinstated.

In a statement, the company's general manager (corporate planning), A.R. Shankar, said the tense situation at the factory had eased after the employees left the premises soon after the lockout was announced. "This was possible due to the restrained efforts of the police and the management," he said.

Mr. Shankar said the lockout was "to ensure the safety of all concerned, including a section of the workers who are on strike." The company said the strike, instigated by the employee's union, was illegal as a 14-day notice was not given under the Industrial Disputes Act. The company had been notified as a public utility service, he added.

The primary dispute related to the dismissal of three employees last year, pending an inquiry against them. The dispute was now before the Deputy Labour Commissioner, and conciliation proceedings were going on. The labour official had convened a meeting here on Monday to settle the dispute, Mr. Shankar said.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor commenced commercial production of cars in 2000.

It has a capacity to roll out 60,000 units per year, and the target for this year is 45,000 units. The firm manufactures Innova and Corolla cars at the unit situated on the outskirts of the city.

`Illegal'

Meanwhile, the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union said the company cannot declare lockout as the dismissal of the three employees was illegal and the enquiry instituted against 15 employees went on beyond three months in violation of clause 28 (14) of the company's certified standing orders.

The union's general secretary, S.R. Deepak, told The Hindu that the employees were ready for negotiations with the management but the latter did not like the union "challenging it".

The employees struck work for 50 days in 2002 but returned to work after a settlement before the Labour Commissioner. The settlement period lapsed in 2004, he said.

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