The government of Karnataka has banned the ongoing workers strike at the Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) factory at Bidadi near Bengaluru. It has also directed the Toyota management to lift the lockout, too, at the factory and resume production at the facility at the earliest. Though an official government statement is still awaited, sources point out that the government has directed both the workers' union members and the company representatives to mutually resolve their issues and get back to work and lift the lockout.
Sources point out that this was decided at a meeting convened by Karnataka Deputy CM C.N. Ashwath Narayan and was attended by the management of TKM and the workers' union representatives.
TKM workers had gone on strike more than a week ago seeking reinstatement of a suspended employee. The company had said that communication and dialogue with the relevant stakeholders was going on and it was trying to resolve the issue. The strike was declared illegal by the company. However, sources pointed out that the deadlock between both parties continued and the issues remained unresolved, forcing the company's management to declare a lockout.
The company had earlier said that the employee had a systematic record of misconduct and was involved in a "breach of discipline" and "unacceptable behaviour which is in violation of the law and service policy of the company". Accordingly, he has been placed under suspension pending inquiry in line with the company rules and applicable laws. However, sources said that the company had suspended around 39 workers pending inquiry during the ongoing strike.
