Single shift operations at Ford India's Chennai plant

With just 1,500 EcoSport vehicles pending to be rolled out of its plant near here for overseas markets, Ford India Pvt Ltd is operating the factory for one shift, said a senior worker.

"The striking workers' union demanding a better severance package as the plant will be closed permanently by the end of this month, have called off their strike. But the factory is operational with one shift as the number of vehicles to be produced is only about 1,500 for this month," a worker told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The worker said the union and the management will hold a meeting on Wednesday on the severance package.

Out of the total 2,600 workers at Ford India's Maraimalai Nagar plant near here, about 1,300 are on duty now and others as and when needed will be called for duty.

According to the worker, about 130 cars are being rolled out of the assembly lines per day.

Speaking about the severance package, the worker said the dispute between the union and the management is majorly over the number of days that has to be taken into account per year.

The talks are on and the final decision on the number of days per year is yet to be arrived at, the worker said.

Meanwhile, union office bearers were not available for comments.