Strike at Volvo Bus factory ends

The two-week long strike at Volvo Bus factory in Hoskote near Bangalore has ended with both the management and workers union coming to a mutual agreement on wage revision. Nearly 400 workers who were on strike have returned to work from August 16 and the normal bus production has been restored.

An official spokesperson for Volvo Buses India Pvt Ltd, an Indian subsidiary of Swedish bus maker, Volvo Bus Corporation, said the management has agreed to revise salaries of workers with retrospective effect from April 1 last for three years. He, however, declined to reveal the exact rise in compensation for the workers.

However, the management has not agreed to reinstate four suspended workers, who are facing enquiry. “The workers’ union has agreed to return to work pending enquiry against them. The suspension is linked to “an act of misconduct, which is grave in nature. Once the enquiry is over, suitable action will be initiated,” the spokesperson said.

Over 400 employees at Volvo Buses went on strike from July 28, 2010, demanding confirmation of temporary employees and reinstatement of four suspended workers in April this year in addition to a wage hike.

The go-slow that began about three months ago, has caused a loss of close to Rs 50 crore to the management till now as the company has lost production of over 60 buses and inventory loss, the company spokesperson told Business Standard. This was the first ever strike at Volvo’s bus plant in India.