Bangalore, Apr 4 (PTI) The management-employees standoff
over lockout at Toyota Kirloskar Motor's two plants at Bidadi
near here persisted today even as the company claimed that 300
out of 4,200 unionised employees have reported back to work.
"Around 300 team members have reported back to work after
signing good conduct undertaking....," TKM Vice-Chairman and
Whole-Time Director Shekar Viswanathan told reporters here,
even as the union continued its day-night fast for the third
day.
He said there are about 1,200 supervisory staff inside the
plant working in the assembly line, apprentice staff of about
800 and about 400 contract labour. "This contract labours and
apprentice are within the limits authorised by labour
department."
"...we have been working one shift....our production
capacity right now is 50 per cent; we used to produce 700 cars
a day earlier, now it is about 300 to 350."
However, rejecting company's claim, TKMEU General
Secretary N Raghu said: "very few about 30 employees" had gone
the first day, but they too came out the very day.
"Our fast has entered the third day today; we are all
together, about 25 of us are fasting," he added.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the subsidiary of Toyota Motor
Corp of Japan, had on March 16 declared a lockout, following
the failure of talks between the management and the union over
wage negotiation.
The union is demanding a wage hike of Rs 4,000 as against
Rs 3,050 proposed by the management.
On March 24 the lockout was lifted, with employees not
resuming work as they objected to signing a good conduct
undertaking as demanded by the company.
Clarifying that the company does not employee contract
labour on the main line, Viswanathan said, "The main line are
only meant for people who have certain number of skills...
contract labours are mainly used for loading, unloading
operations...".
To a question, Viswanathan said 30 employees are under
suspension pending enquiry.
On the step forward and why being adamant on workers
signing the undertaking, he said "....this is undertaking
typically issued before anybody comes into the factory
particularly when we had an incidence of unacceptable nature
prior to our imposing the lockout...".
"...we also have the supervisory staff whose interest we
must protect by giving good working atmosphere to everyone..."
He also said company is not against any union activity,
provided that the activity is lawful.
Answering a question on conciliatory meetings on the wage
hike issue, Viswanathan said "...we did have a final meeting
where we believe where union agreed to a final wage, we only
want them to come and sign....matter stands as far as we are
concerned at Rs 3,100."
Admitting that there is challenge in number of days of
inventory at the dealership, TKM Senior VP, Sales & Marketing
N Raja said: "With the clear understanding of dealers and
customers we are handling the situation... we are micro
managing to an extent ...the cars that are coming out of the
plant suites customer expectations...as per the seniority of
payment, cars are getting delivered."
"Certainly waiting period is going to get longer in the
coming months," he added.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor on April 1 said it has reported a
56.67 per cent decline in total sales at 9,160 units in March
2014. The company had sold 21,143 units in the corresponding
month of previous year.
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