Chennai-based tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd on Friday lifted the lockout at its manufacturing plant in Kottayam, Kerala.
The decision came after a meeting between the union, management and the district labour commissioner. The estimated loss in output is Rs 25 crore. The company declared a lockout from at the plant from Wednesday morning, due to labour unrest which started on June 17. The stir began after a dispute between an employee and a supervisor, which led to the suspension of four labourers from the Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc)-backed MRF Employees Association.
In the settlement, it was agreed the company would take back three suspended employees. It was also concluded that decision on cancelling suspension of a fourth employee, a casual labourer, would be taken in a separate meeting, probably next week, said the source.
The facility has a mixing unit, catering to the mixed rubber requirements of other plants of MRF and manufactures tyres for heavy commercial vehicles. The unit, which has 1,300 employees, has three unions affiliated to different bodies — Citu (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), which has 50 per cent of the employees as members; Intuc, which has 40 per cent, and BMS, which has 10 per cent.
