Business Standard

Toyota staff to launch hunger strike from Feb 5

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Mahesh Kulkarni Bangalore
Even as the production at the passenger car manufacturing plant of Toyota Kirloskar Motor is yet to become normal, the employees' union plans to launch a hunger strike to protest the suspension of 27 employees during the recent strike.
 
The Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union (TKMEU), affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), is working out details of going on a serial hunger strike from February 5 at the Banappa Park in the city demanding the withdrawal of suspension orders on 27 employees.
 
The management had suspended them on January 20 for their involvement in violent activiity during the 15 day strike at the factory in Bidadi.
 
"We have decided to go on a hunger strike to draw the attention of the government towards the unilateral decision of the management against our members. We have urged the management to withdraw the suspension orders, but they have not responded in our favour," R Ravi, joint secretary, TKMEU said.
 
The TKMEU has decided that from February 5, three persons will sit on a hunger strike for 24 hours, another three will sit for the next 48 hours, followed by another three members for 72 hours. This will be followed by the indefinite hunger strike. CITU's general secretary for Karnataka V G K Nair will also be joining the hunger strike, he told Business Standard.
 
Meanwhile, the management of Toyota Kirloskar Motor has sought permission from the labour court to dismiss the 27 employees from service.
 
Said A R Shankar, general manager, corporate planning, TKM: "Since the matter is pending before the Labour Court for its adjudication, we have asked for permission to dismiss those 27 workers from service as they had indulged into violent action during the strike that started on January 6 and ended on January 21."
 
He said that the company has now resumed normal production. In an effort to make good the loss of production during the strike, the management plans to recommence two shift production by end-February. The company lost production of some 800 vehicles during the strike.
 
Shankar, further said that the recent strike will not have any impact on the company's expansion plans in India. "We are right now assessing the situation in the Indian car market and we plan to come out with new models soon. We are presently finalise details for launch of an upgraded version of Camry," he added.

 
 

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First Published: Feb 03 2006 | 12:00 AM IST

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