Talks to end standoff between Toyota and its workers fail

A fresh round of talks between Toyota’s management and the workers union held yesterday has failed. The effort by Karnataka’s labour department seems to have gone in vain and the standoff continues with no resolve yet.

All three parties present in the meeting had something to say about the proceedings. Here are the excerpts from the Karnataka Labour Department, the company and the workers union.

Additional Labour Commissioner J T Jinkalappa present at the meeting told PTI,"The renewed talks have failed, suspension of thirty labourers is the contentious issue."

When asked about the next step, he said: "The next step will be that we will have to prohibit the lockout, we will take that decision in a day or two, first we will have to submit the report to the government after that the decision will happen."

The company issued a statement which said: "We appreciate and thank the Government of Karnataka for their efforts for the conciliation process between our Union and Management. Despite the Labour Department's efforts the matter has not been concluded yet."

"We now are in touch with the Labour Department for the next steps in this issue," it added.

WhileToyota Kirloskar Employees Union President Prasanna Kumar said: "Talks have failed, the management is adamant on its stand. We want suspension of thirty workers to be withdrawn. We had even said that if company agrees for the withdrawal of suspension we are ready to sign the undertaking on the representation of the union (not on individual basis) with some alteration on conditions mentioned in it."

"We will wait and see what government will do. Labour department officials have told us they will submit a report to Additional Chief Secretary labour department," he added

It has been a month since Toyota declared a lockout on March 16. The long standing rift has affected the company’s production and sales. The sales figure of March was at an all-time low and could well be the fate for April if production doesn’t go full steam. Currently the company is operating its plant with 1,200 supervisory staff, 800 apprentice staff and 400 contract workers. Toyota will launch theEtios Cross on May 7 and has announced it will carry a waiting period of one month. The Corolla Altis will follow the Etios Cross and may be launched by July.