Toyota India lifts lockout, but workers keep out

The stand-off between the management and the permanent workers (Union members) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) continued despite the company's announcement ending the week-long lockout on Monday with the workers refusing to sign an undertaking still being locked out.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors management has denied permission to the 4,200-strong union, comprising grade-8 permanent workers, into its Bidadi factory unless each of the workers sign an undertaking to the effect that they would abide by rules governing their work ethic and conduct.

''We wanted to resume work but the company wants us to sign an undertaking before entering the premises,'' Prasanna Kumar, president of the Toyota Kirloskar Motors Employees Union (TKMEU), said.

"As we are against giving or signing any undertaking, none of us has entered the factory for the first shift beginning 6 am," he said.

The company, meanwhile, has deployed police personnel, besides its own security personnel, to maintain law and order around the twin plants in Bidadi industrial township, about 30 km from Bangalore.

With the company management hardening its stand, the workers union has sought state government's intervention to end the stalemate.

The union insists the lock-out was illegal even as the management continues to insist that the workers should give an undertaking to abide by rules governing their work ethic and conduct.

The union also alleged that the management has suspend 13 more workers after it decided to lift the lock-out.

"We learnt about the suspension of 13 more workers after the management conveyed to the state labour office that lockout would be lifted March 24. Though 30 workers have been suspended so far, 10-12 have received letters intimating their suspension," Kumar recalled.

The workers, who are members of the trade union, were suspended on 19 March for "misconduct and indiscipline".

Till such time till normalcy is restored, the management and the union have agreed to adjudicate the contentious issue of wage hike.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors employs a total of 6,400 people in the two factories, of whom about 4,000 are union members and the remaining 2,400 are contract workers.

This is the second time lockout was declared after 2006 over dismissal and suspension of some employees.

Toyota holds 89 per cent equity in the joint venture with the remaining 11 per cent by the Pune-based Kirloskar group.

Toyota rolls out a range of models, including multi-utility vehicle Innova, sedan Camry, hybrid Prius, Corolla Altis, Etios, Prado and Land Cruiser, with some of them imported as completely built units.