Union urges action against Toyota

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union (TKMEU), affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the trade union front of the CPM, has urged the state government to initiate disciplinary action against the management of Toyota Kirloskar Motor for failing to adhere to Section 33 of Industrial Disputes Act 1947 before terminating the services of three employees.

Meenakshi Subdaram, general secretary, CITU, Bangalore unit told Business Standard, that under the Industrial Disputes Act, the company should seek express permission from the industrial tribunal to dismiss an employee.

"We have requested the government to intervene in the matter immediately and prohibit the lock out declared by the management which is illegal. The government should prosecute the management for violating labour laws and issue immediate relief to the dismissed employees such as reinstatement and payment of wages during the dismissed period," he said.

He alleged that the management of TKM has even dismissed the suggestion of the deputy labour commissioner and conciliation officer V N Hittanagi to keep the termination order of the three employees in abeyance till the outcome of the proposed reconciliation meeting scheduled to be held on January 12 is known.

Meanwhile, the trade unions leaders of Bangalore-based factories have expressed their solidarity with the employees of TKM and are contemplating a one-day industrial strike in Bangalore in the event of the failure of talks.