Mahindra's Igatpuri engine plant workers continue agitation

The "tools down" agitation by workers of Mahindra and Mahindra's engine facility at Igatpuri near here entered the eighth day today, with both management and union refusing to budge from their stand, sources said.

The company has already suffered a production loss of around 5,000 units due to the ongoing agitation.

"We had a meeting with the management and the deputy labour commissioner yesterday, but it did not yield any result. We are firm on our demand that the two suspended workers be immediately taken back," Igatpuri engine facility union sources told PTI here.

The management, on its part, has put a condition that the suspended workers will be reinstated only after the agitation is called-off and work at the plant resumes, sources said.

Around 1,600 employees, including contract workers, are on "tools down" protest since last Tuesday against the suspension of their leader Sunil Yadav, president of Bharatiya Kamgar Sangh, affiliated to Shiv Sena, over a fight between two workers earlier this week.

The union is demanding reinstatement of the leader.

"As the plant is completely shut since last Tuesday morning, the company has already taken a hit of around 5,000 engines," sources said.