Labour unrest brewing at Hyundai Motor India
By IANSTuesday, August 3, 2010
CHENNAI - Labour trouble is rearing its head afresh at Hyundai Motor India’s plant at Irrungattukottai near here even as the car maker is getting ready to celebrate production and sales milestone of three million units Wednesday.
“The company management is adopting delaying tactics. The management has not submitted its arguments to the six-member review committee as to why the 35 workers who were dismissed earlier need not be reinstated despite getting additional time,” Y.S. Chinnaraja, general secretary, Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) told IANS.
To end the workers strike demanding reinstatement of 67 dismissed employees, the management and HMIEU had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June in the presence of State Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan.
As per the MoU, a six-member review committee with two representatives from the union, company management and labour commissioner office was constituted to consider the reinstatement of 35 dismissed employees on a case-by-case basis. The remaining 32 dismissed workers have to seek legal recourse.
“Out of the 35 worker group three workers decided to opt for one time settlement programme. Now there are only 32 workers who have to be reinstated,” Chinnaraja said.
At the July 19 meeting of the review committee, the union and the management were asked to present their arguments on the workers’ reinstatement.
“We submitted our argument at the July 24 meeting whereas the management wanted one month time to submit. When that was declined the management representatives agreed to submit their arguments on July 31,” Chinnaraja said.
According to him, on July 31 the management representatives said they needed more time and were given time till Aug 11.
“We have decided to wait till Aug 11 of this month. If the management does not present their written arguments we may start our agitation. It could be a strike or demonstration outside the labour commissioner’s office. Our earlier strike notice is still valid,” Chinnaraja said.
Attempts by IANS to reach Hyundai Motor India officials went in vain and an email to company spokesperson remained unanswered.
Production at Hyundai Motor India came to a halt in June after workers went on sit-in strike demanding reinstatement of all the dismissed workers and recognition of their union.
Hyundai Motor has around 1,650 permanent workers, 2,000 causal labourers, 1,500 apprentices, 1,000 trade apprentices and 1,200 technical trainees.
