Stand-off takes toll on Toyota's car output

Even as the indefinite day-night fast by around 25 members of its staff entered the third day, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice Chairman & Whole Time Director Shekar Viswanathan claimed that around 300 of the 4,200 unionised staff, have since reported for work signing good conduct undertaking.

Rejecting management’s claim, Union General Secretary N Raghu, however, averred that about 30 employees, who had reported on the first day, returned back that very day. The staff have been urging the management to withdraw the lockout unconditionally. The continued stand-off at its Bangalore unit, has, meanwhile taken a heavy toll on the company’s production.

In March this year, the company has just sold 9,160 units as against 21,143 units during corresponding period last year.

Since lockout on March 16, the company has been working one shift at 50 per cent capacity. From 700 cars a day earlier, it is about 300 to 350 now, Viswanathan said.

The union has been demanding wage hike of Rs 4,000 against management’s proposal of Rs 3,050.

Though the lockout was lifted on March 24, the employees refrained from resuming duty, objecting to signing good conduct undertaking sought by the company. Clarifying that the undertaking would not undermine the rights of workers to unionise, Vishwanathan said the company believes in responsible trade unionism.

“The undertaking is intended to ensure worker discipline. The labour department has sought certain clarifications from us on the undertaking,” he said.

Toyota’s first plant in Bangalore started production in December 1999 and manufactures Innova and Fortuner, besides assembling Prado, Land Cruiser and Prius which are imported as CBUs.

It has an installed production capacity of upto 1 lakh units per annum.

The second plant has been rolling out Corolla Altis, Etios, Etios Liva, Camry and Camry Hybrid and has production capacity of 2.10 lakh units.