Bosch lifts lock-out at Naganathapura plant

Bosch Ltd today lifted a lock-out at its main plant at Naganathapura, near Bangalore, following a tripartite meeting of the management, Mico Karmikara Sangha (MKS) - the recognised workers union - and the labour commissioner last evening.

Workers are reported to be back at the plant, which was shut for the last four days beginning 8 March. (See: Bosch declares lock-out at Naganathapura plant)

The meeting was convened after Bosch employees wrote to the state labour minister seeking his immediate intervention in the matter. They claimed the lock-out was illegal, as the management did not follow the required legal procedure for declaring it.

S Prasanna Kumar, president of the recognised workers union, MKS, accused the management of carrying out a misinformation campaign about the union's demands.

"In our demands submitted to the management at the time of negotiations over a wage revision, we had asked for a rise of 25 per cent in salaries, which amounts to about Rs8,000 per person and not Rs15,000 as informed by the management," Kumar said.

MKS, which represents 3,500 employees at Bosch's two plants, have been in negotiations with the management for a new wage agreement since January 2009, after the previous wage pact expired on 31 December 2008.