The stalemate over the strike by a section of workers at General Motors India's manufacturing plant at Halol, near Vadodara, continued for the ninth day today, even as the ‘ultimatum' served by the multinational automaker expired.

On Thursday, the company had warned the strikers to return to work by the first shift today, failing which they would be dismissed.

Apparently, the company had, unofficially, extended the deadline.

Speaking with Business Line , Mr P. Balendran, Director, GM India, claimed that with 50 more workers reporting today, nearly 700, out of a total 900, are now working at the plant. The company was not, however, able to start the second shift as planned. In fact, it continued to work only in one (general) shift due to the lack of manpower. “We are planning to start the second shift, as we expect more workers to return to work later in the day.”

Shifts production

Meanwhile, the company has temporarily shifted production of its Spark car from Halol to the Talegaon plant near Pune, he said.

Mr Balendran admitted that the company is not contemplating any stern or hasty measures against the strikers for now. No one had been sacked so far. It was said to be expecting the agitation to fizzle out on its own. “Even those who returned after expiry of the ultimatum today, numbering about 50, were allowed to work.”

On the other hand, a group of workers today went to meet the Panchmahals district officials at Godhra, demanding, among other things, “a place to continue their agitation,” as imposition of prohibitory orders around the Halol plant had made it difficult for them to assemble more than four people.

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