The 900-odd agitating workers of Hyundai employees union called off their strike on Thursday with the management agreeing to look into their list of 45 demands. Company spokesman Rajiv Mitra said Hyundai has agreed to reinstate 20 workers who were suspended last year.
During the tripartite talks between union representatives, labour commissioner and management representatives it was also decided that workers demands would be looked into on May 18, after the conclusion of Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. Commenting on the decision to call off the strike, workers? representative, Edision Periera claimed , ?Management has assured us of not taking punitive action against those involved in the strike and we will continue negotiations with them on our demands post elections?. In the mean time picketing workers will return to work by tomorrow.
But the company has not agreed to the demand to recognise the formation of any trade union by the workers.
This is despite the workers till mid-day on Thursday continuing their indefinite hunger strike in Chennai to demand formation of such an union .
Speaking to FE earlier on Thursday Periera had said, ?Since 1997 the Hyundai management has been resorting to unfair labour practices by not abiding by the labour laws of the land. For instance, the Chennai plant at Sriperambadur was expanded from one to three units in 1998, but the labour strength was not raised from 1,000 workers to suit the expansion?.
Hyundai is the second largest car manufacturer in the country. The company has set a target of producing 1,20,000 to 1,30,000 units of i20 in 2009 and over 65% of this (around 80,000 units) were to be exported to Europe.
Its dream to make India the hub of its small cars has taken a hit, following the strike as it has decided to shift production of i20 to Europe.
The just-called-off stir at the plant saw around 100-200 workers going on strike after the company refused to plead with their demand of setting up a union.