Kerala - Kochi   

Apollo Tyres lockout a ruse, says union

KOCHI: Trade unions at PTL Enterprises Limited, formerly Premier Tyres Limited, now leased to Apollo Tyres, feel that a lockout has been imposed on them by the tyre company’s management in the wake of the world-wide economic meltdown and subsequent recession faced by the automotive industry in the country.

The notice of lockout from PTL opened with a pointer to the shape of the automotive and tyre industries.

It said that principal automobile makers like TATA Motors, Maruti Udyog and Ashok Leyland had cut production substantially.

The lockout came into effect from 2 a.m. on Saturday and it was blamed on violence and intimidation of management personnel by the workers, an allegation the trade unions have denied.

A spokesman for Premier Tyres Employees’ Union claimed that the workers had not caused any obstructions to movement of vehicles or management personnel as alleged.

V.D. Satheesan, MLA, and leader of Premier Tyres Workers’ Union, said that he led a new generation trade union that understood the exigencies of the times.

He said he represented the biggest trade union at the Kalamassery unit and that the union was always aware of the problems of the tyre industry.

He said that the trade unions offered to accept the points raised by the management at Tuesday’s discussions. However, the management representatives at the meeting appeared helpless in taking a decision as they had been summoned to Delhi for further instructions.

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