Hyundai workers end strike

In a communique late in the evening, a statement from TN government said that the striking workers have agreed to abide by the wage agreement entered into by Hyundai management with workers committee (WC) on July 23 and will return to their work immediately.

When contacted, official spokesperson of Hyundai said: ?After a detailed review by the labour commissioner on a case by case basis, the management has agreed to take back 20 out of the 80 sacked workers. The management also agreed to consider taking back 9 technicians who were transferred out of Chennai factory two years back within the next one year or so.?

The spokesperson also reiterated that there is no going back on the management decision in not recognising HMEU as a union. These workers, as usual, will come under Workers Committees and will sign the wage agreement soon.

When contacted a senior official of CITU, which is actively behind the striking workers, said the management is expected to pay the pending bonus and gifts for the last two years to its workers apart from considering few other demands, including victimisation of workers.

It may be recalled that nearly 250 to 300 workers have been involved in a week-long strike for various reasons, including recognising their group as a legal union and asked the management to enter into fresh wage agreements with them and not with the Workers Committee formed by the management.

Following which, the company had to undergo nearly 30% to 40% cut in production every day. The management on the other hand made it clear that it will never ever allow union formation by workers and entered into wage agreement with the Workers Committee with a hefty hike of 21% to 24%. More than 900 workers out of the 1,625 workers have already entered into an agreement with the management independently and the remaining will do the same, said the company?s spokesperson.