Toyota employees ready to return, but minus riders

The striking workers of the Toyota Kirloskar Motors are open to returning to work if the management does not insist on an undertaking from them.

The development followed the government's decision to prohibit the strike and referring the issue to the Industrial Tribunal. If a strike is prohibited, all workmen have to report to work under the law.

According to senior officials at TKM, they have come to know of the government decision but are yet to get a copy of the order. "We have sought an appointment with the labour commissioner to get details of this order," the official noted.

A spokesperson for the workers union however confirmed that the strike has been prohibited and they have called a meeting of the general body on Monday to decide on the further course of action.

"We are open to returning to work, but without giving an undertaking," he noted. According to Toyota, over 200 workers resumed work at the plant on Saturday, after signing the good conduct declaration.

But the union disputed the claim and said that only 42 had returned. The management had recently lifted the lockout, enabling production to resume at the plant.

According to Toyota, lockout was lifted after getting a positive response from the workmen.

During the strike, the management of Toyota Kirloskar Motor received several requests from a majority of the workmen and their families, who wanted to return to the plant and did not want to be part of the illegal and unjustified strike.

Considering the interests of its workmen and its business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor decided to lift the lockout.

"We have also got calls from many team members who hail from North and South Karnataka, informing us that they are on their way to Bangalore to resume work. They were apprehensive of the threat of violence from the union. However, we expect most of the team members to attend work in a few days," said A R Shankar, general manager, corporate planning, TKM.