BYLINE: Hindustan Times
LENGTH: 398 words
DATELINE: Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan. 21[, 2006] -- Hundreds of workers of the Toyota Kirloskar plant in Bidadi near here, were arrested today after they continued their strike even as the company lifted the factory lockout.
On January 8, the Toyota Motor Corporation had declared an indefinite lockout at its plant after a strike by workers following the dismissal of three of their fellow workers.
The workers, however, said that since the company wanted them to accept formally their mistake and stand against the office-bearers, they decided to continue the strike.
Meenakshi Sundaram, District General Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Union, said the workers were ready to call off the strike on conditions of collective bargaining.
"The management lifted the lockout by putting a serious condition by giving undertaking, (they asked the workers to) accept what they have done is wrong. The workers are forced to give evidence against their office bearers... But what we have decided is that we will go to the factory gate and let the management decide and talk to the office bearers peacefully even at the format of undertaking, several other issues like the suspensions made after sixth. Moreover, those (who were arrested after the strike, their suspension) should be withdrawn, negotiating everything peacefully through discussions and collective bargaining, we can settle the issue," said Sundaram.
The workers also demanded that those suspended after the strike should be taken back. About 1,550 of the factory's 2,350 workers are affiliated with the union.
Toyota Kirloskar has invested nearly 15 billion rupees (336 million dollars) in its Bidadi plant, which started production in December 1999 and has a capacity of 60,000 units annually.
Toyota makes the Corolla and Camry cars and the Innova in the plant, and sold more than 42,000 vehicles in India in 2005.
Last July, hundreds of striking workers at the Indian motorcycle and scooters unit of Honda Motor Co. clashed violently with police near Delhi, resulting in a production loss of at least 57 million dollars.
Japan's ambassador said then that the incident could damage India's image in the eyes of foreign investors.
Japan is the fourth-largest investor in India, with 2 billion dollars in equity investment. About 250 Japanese companies are present in India.
Published by HT Media Ltd. with permission from Asian News International.
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