Nokia, workers fail to agree, again

This article has been modified. Please see the clarification at  the end

Another meeting between Nokia's management and workers at the Sriperumbudur factory, near here, failed to satisfy the latter even as the factory remains stuck in an income-tax dispute. This is the third meeting between the two parties, including one in which the Labour Department, Chennai, had taken part.

Saravana Kumar, president of the Nokia India Employees Union, told Business Standard the two parties met on Wednesday and Thursday, without revealing any details. Nokia officials could not be reached for comment.

An employee with direct knowledge of the meeting said the union raised the issue of job security and asked for update on the transfer of the plant and its workers to Microsoft, which has agreed to buy Nokia's devices business for Euro 5.44 billion.

While the global transaction is expected to conclude by April, the fate of Nokia India remains uncertain. The income tax department has slapped a Rs 21,000-crore demand on the company and the courts have asked Nokia to give a Rs 3,500-crore guarantee, without which the Supreme Court won't let Nokia transfer the factory to Microsoft.

"They (Nokia management) don't have any clear information and when we asked what is the next action, they again said they didn't have any communication from the top management," said a worker.

Workers at the factory have been protesting to get their demand fulfilled. On March 31, they observed a day-long hunger strike near the Chepauk Stadium here. They have also sought help from the labour department on three issues - ensuring that their jobs are secured, the factory order is not shared with any other Nokia factory and the management clarify when they would become part of Microsoft.

CLARIFICATION
In an earlier version of this article it was mentioned that the Company Law Board had attended a meeting between Nokia management and employees, which is untrue. It was the Labour department which attended the meeting. The error is regretted.