MRF, the Chennai-based tyre manufacturer, has decided to shift tyre production temporarily from its Arakkonam factory in Tamil Nadu to its Medak factory in Andhra Pradesh.
The company’s move comes after production at the Arakkonam factory came to a halt for the last 12 days due to strike called by the MRF United Workers Union (MUWU), which claims the support of a majority of the company’s workers.
The union is demanding reinstatement of workers who were dismissed following unionisation, recognising the union and that the company should come forward to discuss about the wage revision with MUWU instead of the other union – MRF Arakkonam Worker Welfare Union (MAWWU), which is claimed to be a pro-management union.
The company announced a lock-out at the Arakkonam factory with effect from May 17 on a no-work, no-pay basis due to the labour issues. In a statement today, the company said that “...several vehicle manufacturers depend on MRF for supply of OE tyres. MRF has made all efforts to ensure regular supply of OE tyres from its factory at Medak in Andhra Pradesh.”
T V Paramasivam, president of MUWU, said that “...workers were arrested on Wednesday evening after police gave an order for lathi charge”. He claimed that all the workers were forcibly brought out from the factory by the police and were taken to a wedding hall and kept under their custody till midnight before they were released.
