The Hindu Business Line : Toyota workers call off strike; want co not to insist on conduct note

A workers' union representative told Business Line that all the workers will report for duty on Tuesday morning but if the management insists on getting a good conduct declaration from them, they will refuse to report for work and will seek the government's intervention. He also said the strike has been called off because the Government has banned the strike.

The representative said the workers had no option but to return to work because the Karnataka Government had banned strikes under the Essential Services Act. Toyota Kirloskar, however, termed the union's refusal to sign the good conduct declaration "irresponsible." During the conciliation process organised by the Labour Department, the union members had agreed to sign a declaration, which was more stringent than the one proposed by the Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) management, if the management lifted the lockout, the TKM General Manager for corporate planning, Mr A.R. Shankar, said. "It is strange they are going back on their word so soon," Mr Shankar said.

He said the declaration was a normal industrial practice in the event of workmen reporting to duty after a violent strike. "There is nothing in the declaration that constitutes unfair labour practice by the TKM management. There are no changes in the service conditions either. The only reason for seeking such a declaration was the large-scale violence during the strike and the threat of the workmen to blow up LPG tanks in the company premises. Hence, we want to underline the basic fundamentals of employment through this simple document," he said.

Welcoming the Government's decision to ban the strike, Mr Shankar said, "We believe it will help in restoring normalcy at the plant soon."

He said that over 500 workmen reported to work at the plant on Monday in response to the management's announcement of lifting the lockout. All the workmen have signed the good conduct declaration while reporting for work, he said. "We believe better sense has prevailed over most of the workmen. They have realised their growth is linked to the growth of the company. We expect to resume normal production in a few days."