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

Karnataka govt prohibits lockout at Toyota plants

   

This is not PTI story

Bangalore, Apr 19 Seeking an end to over a 

month long stalemate between the management and the union of 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Karnataka Government has prohibited 

the lockout at the company's two plants at Bidadi near here.

     "Government has prohibited the lockout; an order in 

this regard was issued on 16 April evening, both the parties 

should have received the order by now," sources said.

     To a question on suspension of 39 employees, he 

said "it is a non issue, they will settle it out."

     Confirming receiving the lockout prohibition order, 

Toyota Kirloskar Employees Union Joint Secretary, N Raghu said 

"Labour secretary has passed an order regarding lifting the 

lockout unconditionally."

     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 negotiations. 

     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 and pressing for 

withdrawal of the suspension orders.

     "Labour Secretary has prohibited the lockout, they 

have asked the company to lift the lockout with immediate 

effect and restore normalcy," TKMEU General Secretary R Satish 

said.

     "We are currently taking legal opinion, we will be 

convening the special general body meeting of the union 

tomorrow or day after to decide our next course of action," he 

added.

     The company however did not respond to calls made to 

seek its reaction about the lockout being prohibited.