Around 800 employees at MRF’s Arakkonam factory, 70 km from here, were arrested today with their family members, for continuing their indefinite sit-in strike for the 11th day against the company’s management.
And, today’s talks between the striking union representatives and the management in the presence of labour department officials here didn’t succeed.
The management had declared a lockout at the factory yesterday.
The workers were demanding reinstatement of workers who were allegedly dismissed for switching to the anti-management union, recognising the union and wage revision discussion. They want discussion on wages only with their MRF United Workers Union (MUWU), instead of the recognised union, the MRF Arakkonam Workers Welfare Union (MAWWU), which they say has lost majority support.
T V Paramasivam, president of MUWU, told Business Standard that “workers were arrested on Wednesday late evening after police gave order for a lathi charge”. He added all the workers were forcibly brought out from the factory by the police and kept under custody.
Police action came despite the MUWU counsel telling the High Court here today that workers inside the factory will not block any vehicles carrying materials in and out of the factory. The HC’s vacation bench had been petitioned by the management, against the MUWU. The court has posted the hearing for next week, without giving any order.
The management had sought police protection and eviction of the strikers from the factory.