Workers of Asian Paints on hunger strike

Workers has been on strike from December 20, 2013, raising issues including that bonus for the year 2012-13

Workers at Asian Paints’ Sriperumbudur plant have gone on a hunger strike since Friday. The move follows a three-month general strike since December 20, 2013 demanding bonus for 2012-13. The Asian Paints Employees Union, affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, said an inconclusive discussion with the management early last week has triggered the hunger strike.

When contacted, a company source said, “Talks are going on and we are trying our best to resolve the issue.” The source added that while the production has been affected due to the strike, the company was able meet the demand with the help of other plants.

T Gunasekar, a member of the union said, "Almost 150 of us has been subjected to disciplinary action and the company did not discuss bonus for the year 2012-13."  Discussion in the presence of a labour officer has also failed, which lead the workers to resort to a hunger strike, he added.

He said that there are 200 permanent workers and around 300 other workers including contract workers. All the permanent workers are part of the union and are on strike.

However, the production is continuing in the facility, though in a lower pace, as the company has deployed trainees and other sections into the production job, said the union members. Union said that the company is running the plant with the trainees and other workers, which they claim is illegal. On the other side while agreeing that the manufacturing has affected, the company could meet the demand from other plant.

Asian Paints Ltd has informed the stock exchanges in December that, "The operations at the company's paints plant situated at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu will be affected due to the strike called by the Asian Paints Employees' Union Sriperumbudur and workmen with effect from December 20, 2013".

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