Hinduja Foundries workers on strike, seek job assurance

Management allegedly asked a few people from company to leave their job, on Saturday night

A section of workers in the Sriperumbudur factory of Hinduja Foundries Ltd, a part of Hinduja Group, went on a hunger strike seeking job assurance for those completing training and to reinstate the allegedly terminated trainees.

Around 200 workers in the facility have started their hunger strike after the management allegedly asked a few to leave recently, according to the protesting workers.  Around 320 workers are undergoing training and many of them have joined the strike on apprehension that they would also be terminated, said a worker.

Emails sent to company’s managing director, GRV Rajan, and to corporate communication of Ashok Leyland, which holds a major stake in Hinduja Foundries, seeking comment did not elicit any response till the time of filing this report.  

“The company suddenly asked many of us to leave the job as the production has come down.  So far, they have asked 37 people to leave the job,” said R Ezhilarasan, a production level worker in the company, who is protesting against the alleged move.

There are 1,200-1,300 workers, including the management staff, he added.

The company has dismissed around 120 trainees with around six months of experience almost a fortnight ago, added the workers.

“The management has not come to speak to us so far,” said another worker. The workers said they could go on leave but the management should reinstate them once the production is normal.

According to the company website, the advanced facility at the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (Sipcot ) industrial area was established in 2007. It has a capacity of around 72,000 mt.

The foundry major was referred to the BIFR after the company said its net worth had eroded. Around half of the company’s net worth had eroded on September 30, 2012, due to losses accumulated in the preceding four financial years.