Company-versus-workers: Toyota lockout continues

Talks with labour dept inconclusive; management suspends 17 workers for misconduct

Separate meetings of the deputy labour commissioner with Toyota Kirloskar Motor and the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union (TKMEU) remained inconclusive on Wednesday. Now, the employees’ union is planning to hold a protest in front of the Bidadi car factory on Thursday.

“We have been asking the management to lift the lockout, as it is illegal. It is not listening to our demands. We have told the deputy commissioner of labour we are ready to return to work immediately and talks over wage revision can take place later. The management has not responded to our demands,” said Satish R, general-secretary, TKMEU.

Talks in this regard would continue on Thursday, he added.

Meanwhile, the company has suspended 17 workers for misconduct. When contacted, the Toyota management, through its public relations agency, confirmed the suspension of a few workers. However, it did not confirm the exact number. “A decision to suspend some of the members pending enquiry for serious misconduct was taken earlier in the week. This is in line with the company’s rules and regulations,” it said.

“At the instance of the labour department, we appreciate the efforts taken by the government of Karnataka for the reconciliation process. Discussions have taken place, but no conclusion has been arrived at,” the company said.

On Sunday, Toyota Kirloskar had announced a lock-out at its car manufacturing plants to ensure the safety of its premises and personnel. Through the past month, workers had been going slow on production front, following the management’s failure to revise their wages for this year.

The slow production has resulted in a daily production loss of 540 cars.