Toyota Kirloskar shuts Bidadi unit following workers’ strike
12 Nov 2020
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Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd on Tuesday declared an indefinite lockout at its manufacturing facility in Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, following a strike called by the workers union, which the company termed as “illegal."
Workers decided to strike work following the suspension of one of their leaders. Toyota Kirloskar said the worker was suspended after he violated factory discipline and that he has a “record of misconduct."
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a unit of Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp, has two plants spread over 432 acres in Bidadi, where it manufactures its flagship Innova, Fortuner and Camry Hybrid, among other vehicles. The two plants have a total installed production capacity of 310,000 vehicles a year and employ 6,500 workers.
The lockout comes days after Toyota Kirloskar expressed relief over a hint of revival in sales in October after months of declining sales.
“Despite our efforts to maintain a cordial and healthy working environment based on active employee participation and maintaining desired level of discipline in the plant, one of the employees who has a systematic record of misconducts was again involved in breach of discipline and unacceptable behaviour which is in violation of law and service policy of the company. Accordingly, he has been placed under suspension pending enquiry," says a company release.
A prolonged lockout will harm the company’s prospects as it would stall the company’s plan to tap the current recovery in sales.
“Our treasurer (Umesh Gowda Alur) had gone to speak to workers on their grievances inside the factory while the management announced his suspension pending inquiry citing some made-up charges," Pradeep N, vice-president of the workers’ union, said,
Members of the 3,460-strong union are camping outside the factory after they were asked to vacate the complex where they were protesting since Monday afternoon.
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