The Karnataka government has asked Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) and the agitating workers union to end their standoff and restore normalcy at the manufacturing unit in Bidadi Industrial Estate near Bangalore. About 4,200 workers of TKM’s total workforce of 6,500 employees are a part of the TKM Workers Union.
R Sathish, general secretary of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Workers’ Union (TKMWU) told our sister publication, Autocar Professional, that the government has issued an order prohibiting the lockout at both the car factories in Bidadi. He added, after the company lifted the lockout on March 24, the management was pressing the workers to sign a ‘good conduct’ undertaking before resuming their duties. However, now, with the government intervening, he said, the management has withdrawn its condition.
TKMWU will be holding its general body meeting later today to discuss the matter. “Around 4,200 workers will participate in the meeting and we will take decision over our future course of action. We will discuss when to re-join duty,” said Sathish.
In its statement issued on April 19, TKM management had said, “The Karnataka government, in order to maintain industrial peace and harmony, has issued an order asking the company and the union to restore normalcy in operations, immediately. All relevant issues, between the workers and the management have been referred for adjudication.”
The Karnataka government had remained silent in the last two weeks on the issue to comply with the code of conduct in line with parliamentary elections. The government intervened after the state elections got over on April 17, a top level labour department official said, requesting anonymity.
Jaishankar Jayaramiah