Union leaders go on indefinite hunger strike at Toyota India
Though the company withdrew the lockout a week later after a tripartite talk involving government authorities and the workers union, workers refused to return to the shop floor after Toyota asked them to sign good conduct undertakings.
To step up pressure on the management, union leaders at Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the plant.
The wage dispute, which recently hit production at Toyota India’s twin plants in Bangalore, has brought down dispatch to dealers by 58% to 8,206 units in March.
The company has been facing significant production loss since it declared lockout at its plants on March 17.
Though the company withdrew the lockout a week later after a tripartite talk involving government authorities and the workers union, workers refused to return to the shop floor after Toyota asked them to sign good conduct undertakings. Since then, the company has been partially operating the plants with the help of supervisors and contract labourers.
The workers union has demanded reinstatement of all 4,200 workers on the basis of a collective good conduct agreement.
“Union president Prasanna Kumar and ten others are on an indefinite hunger strike at the gate of Toyota plant, demanding the government intervention in this matter,” said GS Sathish, secretary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employee Union. The union wants the management to withdraw suspension of its leaders.
When contacted, the company spokesperson said, “The limited operation with the help of supervisors is on.”
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