The lockout at the MRF Vadavathur unit near Kottayam district has been lifted following an agreement reached between the management and the unions before the Regional Labour Commissioner here on Thursday night.

Mr Cherian Elias, Senior Manager (Administration and PR) of the Vadavathur unit, told Business Line that production at the factory has resumed from 7 a.m. on Friday.

However, it was decided at the conciliatory meeting that the three permanent employees who have been suspended from the factory due to some issues connected with the working arrangement in the unit, will be allowed to enter the factory only on Saturday. The enquiry proceedings against these workers will also continue, he said.

Regarding the issue of the working arrangement of the trainee in the unit, he said the RJLC will take a decision after visiting the factory within one week. This decision was agreeable to both the unions and the management, he added.

Mr P.K. Alichen, District Secretary, CITU, Kottayam, said that the unions have demanded salary for the four-day lay-off and two-day lockout period as they consider the decision of the management to declare lockout as illegal. He said that 70 per cent of the workers were willing to work during the strike days. The unions have asked the management to take a decision in this regard before July 30 before the Regional Labour Commissioner, he added.

It may be recalled that the three workers belonging to INTUC union were suspended on last Friday for blocking production following some issues related to the working arrangement in the unit. As the situation went out of control, the management had declared a lock out in the unit.

There are about 2,300 workers in the unit working in three shifts with a production capacity of 175 tonnes per day. The company has been manufacturing 2,600 tyres per day. The company put the loss at Rs 3 crore daily due to the strike.

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