Toyota plant lockout to be lifted on March 24

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has decided to lift the lockout at its Bidadi vehicle manufacturing facility near Bangalore on March 24, following the state government’s conciliatory efforts. Our sister magazine Autocar Professional had yesterday, after speaking to Prasanna Kumar, president of the TKM Workers Union, reported that the workers' union had softened its stand on the wage hike demand, and had asked the carmaker to immediately lift the lockout. The company’s decision to lift the lockout comes after the tripartite meeting held yesterday evening by the Karnataka labour department, TKM Employees Union (TKMEU) and the company management.

However, the company has put forth a few conditions for the workers to fulfil when they resume work next Monday. Primarily, TKM wants the workers to sign an undertaking of good conduct before they walk into the plant premises. On March 16, TKM had declared a lockout at its Bidadi plant claiming that a certain section of employees had resorted to deliberate stoppages of the production line, abuse and threatening of supervisors, thereby continuously disrupting business for the past 25 days. In a statement issued late evening on Thursday, TKM said, “The team members are welcome to resume work with effect from March 24 after signing a simple undertaking on good conduct.” TKM also mentioned that it is lifting the lockout in the interest of the majority of law-abiding employees.

The company also thanked the Karnataka government for its advice in arriving at a solution. However, according to sources in the Karnataka labour department, Toyota has not agreed to revoke the suspension of a few employees, who were suspended earlier for various reasons. When contacted, a TKM official declined to elaborate with further details.