Toyota workers demand withdrawal of the lockout

The situation involving Toyota and its workers over wages issue seems to have taken a new direction. The company, earlier this week, announced a lockout until an amicable solution was reached. It so happens that the workers are unhappy with the decision and have asked the company to withdraw the lockout prior to discussions on the wage increase.

The labour department after failing to reconcile the rift between the company management and workers has asked for one last conciliatory meeting today. The Karnataka state government has ordered the arbitrator for a swift resolution on this issue.

Labour Commissioner N Prakash said, "The jurisdictional Deputy Labour Commissioner, Bangalore, will call both management and the union members for a conciliatory meeting to explore an amicable settlement within the ambit of law.” 

The government is in a fix to either support the lockout or to declare it illegal and ask the management to start the factory. It is claimed that senior government officials are hopeful that the management and the workers will resolve the wage issue soon.

A statement issued by the company said: "The lock out continues as of today and we are hopeful that an early solution can be found." 

This is the second time Toyota has been embroiled in a controversy related to labour issues since they started operations in India. In 2006, Toyota declared a 15-day lockout following worker strike on wage negotiations. This is certainly not a good sign and more details will emerge after the meeting today between both the parties.

Toyota declares lockout at the Bidadi plant