Toyota and workers standoff enters fourth week; no resolve yet

The standoff between Toyota and its workers continues with no resolve yet. The workers union announced an indefinite hunger strike last week for government intervention to meet their demands. A new report says one of the workers on the strike was hospitalised owing to low blood pressure.

"Our fasting has entered fourth day today, 25 of our employees are still fasting. Four of them are suffering from low BP and one has been hospitalised," Toyota Kirloskar Employees Union Joint Secretary N Raghu told PTI. Insisting on government intervention, he said, "We want government to intervene soon and take care of us." 

TKMEU General Secretary R Satish said, "The health of our employees on fast is going dull day by day, Union President Prasanna Kumar is also on hunger strike." 

About twenty-five union members went on a hunger strike on April 2 demanding the government's intervention. 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has termed the action "regrettable". TKM Vice-Chairman and Whole-Time Director ShekarViswanathan said: "Around 300 team members have reported back to work after signing good conduct undertaking.”  

He said that 1,200 supervisory staff are working in the assembly line and about 800 apprentice staff and 400 contract labour are keeping the machines oiled.

The three week long ordeal has affected the company badly, with the March sales figures showing a major downfall. Toyota has two of its important launches lined up for May and it seems there could be an indefinite delay in these cars hitting the showroom.

Source: ET