Toyota staff to stage protest

The employees of Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) and members of various trade unions will stage a protest in front of the Labour Commissioner’s office here on Wednesday, seeking intervention of the State government in the lockout of TKM’s two plants at Bidadi.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Monday said that various trade unions supporting the TKM employees would stage a peaceful protest seeking the intervention of the government and the Labour department. TKM, a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corp of Japan, on Sunday declared a lockout at its two manufacturing plants following the failure of talks between the management and the union over wage negotiation. The union is demanding a wage hike of Rs 4,000 at the main level as against Rs 3,050 proposed by the management.

There are 4,200 regular employees and 1,500 contract workers at the two plants. However, the company has declared lockout only for the unionised workers. It is rolling out vehicles with the help of contract workers and managers, the employees alleged.