Toyota stalemate ends, workers resume duty

Bangalore, April 22 (PTI) Ending the over month-long stalemate, employees of Toyota Kirloskar Motor resumed work today at the company's two Bidadi plants near here after the Karnataka government asked both the management and the Union to restore normalcy in operations.

"We have resumed work today as per the orders of Karnataka Government; about 2,000 employees have reported to work in the first sift at 5:45 am, another group has reported to second shift at 2:45pm," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union General Secretary R Satish told PTI.

However, he said that they will continue to contest with management on issues including wages and suspension of 30 employees, he added.

About 4,200-member Union at its general body meeting held last evening had decided to resume work from today following Karnataka government's order to both the management and the union to restore normalcy in operations.

The company in response to a query said, "All workmen have come to work as planned."

Toyota's operations had been affected ever since the union demanded a wage hike of Rs 4,000 as against Rs 3,050 proposed by the management.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp of Japan, had on March 16 declared a lockout, after talks between the management and union over wages failed.

The lockout was lifted on March 24, but employees did not resume work as they objected to signing a good conduct undertaking as demanded by the company and pressed for withdrawal of suspension orders. PTI KSU

Toyota impasse: workers to resume duty tomorrow

     Bangalore, Apr 21 (PTI) Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees
Union has decided to resume work from tomorrow in the wake of
Karnataka government's order to both the management and the
union to restore normalcy in operations.
     "At our general body meeting held today, we have decided
to resume work from tomorrow following the government's
directions," TKMEU Joint Secretary N Raghu told PTI.
     "Our issues with the management relating to COD (Charter
of Demand), legality of lockout, wage issues have been
referred to adjudication," he said.
     The Karnataka government had last week asked both the
management and the union of Toyota Kirloskar Motor to restore
normalcy in operations, seeking to an end to over month long
stalemate.
     In response to a question on suspension of 30 employees,
he said, "we will have to discuss it and follow it up with the
management, if need arise we will fight it legally also."
     Responding to the union's decision to resume work, the
company in reply to a query said, "The government has
requested the company and the union to restore normalcy in
operations immediately. Under these circumstances it is
important for the union and the company to comply with and
facilitate the execution of the government's order."
     On how the company intends to pursue the issue of
suspension of 30 employees, it said, "We have a systematic
process in place that also involves external parties for fair
enquiry. The principles of natural justice, governing this
process will be followed and the penalties meted out in line
with its results."
     The company's operations have been affected ever since
the union demanded a wage hike of Rs 4,000 as against Rs 3,050
proposed by the management.
     Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor
Corp of Japan, had on March 16 declared a lockout, after talks
between the management and union over wage negotiations
failed.
     Although the lockout was lifted on March 24, employees
have not resumed work as they objected to signing a good
conduct undertaking as demanded by the company and pressed for
withdrawal of suspension orders. PTI KSU