Tata Motors today said a lockout has been declared at the Dharwad plant of one of its subsidiaries, Tata Marcopolo Motors, following "illegal strike" by workmen over wage negotiations.
The company said "workmen resorted to an illegal strike, with mass absence on January 31, 2016, compelling the plant's management to resort to temporary suspension of operations on February 1 to ensure safety."
"In view of continued deterioration of the situation and in the absence of a congenial working atmosphere, with a continued threat to safety of people and equipment, the company declared a lock-out from February 6," a Tata Motors spokesperson said in an e-mailed response.
The company accused workers of disruption and jeopardising its operations and reputation in spite of it "undertaking an upward wage revision every year, even in adverse market conditions."
"Tata Marcopolo remains committed to its well-established principles of strong and cordial relationship with its people, with fair, employee-friendly policies at all times, but will not tolerate any indiscipline and coercive methods to pressurise for unreasonable demands," the spokesperson said.
The Tata Marcopolo plant in Dharwad employs over 2,500 people and has the capacity to manufacture over 15,000 buses per annum.
The plant rolls out fully-built buses for intra-city and inter-city transportation, including 16 to 54-seater standard buses and 18 to 45-seater luxury and low-floor city buses.
