Apollo's Premier Tyres unit hit by strike

Our Corporate Bureau
28 December 2006

Kochi: The Apollo Tyres (ATL) management has suspended production of truck tyres at its Premier Tyres unit near Kalamassery, following stoppage of despatch by striking workers.

The workers have been on strike since 22 December demanding higher wages. The workers went on strike on the directions of the trade unions at a time when negotiations for a long-term settlement were underway, senior management sources said.

Sources said the company decided to set up an Ayurveda hospital and resort on its six acres of land in the area, which was bought by the earlier management for construction of staff quarters. The trade unions are blocking it to use it as a trump card to demand higher wages at the long-term wage settlement negotiations.

The trade unions alleged that the company management had adopted a strategy to utilise the land for other purposes 'aimed at making more profits' and even the plans to shift the tyre factory to Irapuram near Perumbavoor are part of the same strategy.

They also claim that the management is demanding now the trade unions' consent for utilising the six acres of land for setting up the ayurveda hospital and resort, which has no relation to the long-term wage settlement.

The previous long-term wage settlement expired one year ago.