The stand-off between the Pawan Kumar Ruia-led management of ailing tyre company Dunlop India and the workers' union remained unresolved today, but the new management expressed confidence that all pending issues would be sorted out soon paving the way for the re-opening of the plant."Differences still persist and a unanimity on pending issues could not be reached at the day's meeting," a spokesman of the management said, adding that a series of meetings would be held next week to sort out the matter.To a query about the points of differences, he said that it mainly revolved around production norms, "but we want to make it clear that the negotiation is an on-going process, and we are confident of sorting out the matter soon. There is no uncertainty over the re-opening of the Dunlop plants."When asked whether the management would seek the assistance of the West Bengal government on the issue, he said: "The state government has been playing a very pro-active role on the Dunlop issue. We are sure that if we fail to sort out the matter, the government will help."Both CITU and INTUC affiliated Dunlop workers unions were present at the meeting.Ruia, who had bought Dunlop along with two other tyre companies from Dubai- based Jumbo group of the Chhabria family, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the workers' union on an early retirement scheme and back-wages for the period the plants were closed.An agreement based on the MoU was to be signed by February 15. The workers' unions, however, have refused to accept certain conditions in the agreement.
