Domestic auto major Mahindra and Mahindra has suffered a production loss of around 3,000 engines due to the “tools down” protest by workers of its Igatpuri engine manufacturing facility near Nashik, even as the stir entered the fourth day, sources said on Friday.
“The production has been completely crippled since Wednesday morning. There is a production loss of around 3,000 units so far due to the protest,” said sources at the engine plant to PTI.
The plant produces 1,100 engines per day in three shifts for Mahindra’s vehicles such as XUV 500, Bolero, Xylo, Genio and Maxximo.
Around 1,600 employees including contract workers are on a “tools down” protest since Tuesday, against the suspension of Sunil Yadav, president of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sangh, which is affiliated to Shiv Sena, over a fight between two workers earlier this week. The union is demanding reinstatement of the leader.
On Wednesday M&M had said that the company is in constant dialogue with the union for an early solution of the issue.
Workers’ Union sources said that they are expecting the negotiations to resume on Friday after the ‘Gudi Padwa’ holiday at the plant. “So far, we have not received any communication from the management, but we hope on resumption of talks,” they said.
Similar strike
The development comes within a month of a similar agitation at the company’s Nashik plant, where employees were demanding higher wages.
The Workers’ Union at Nashik plant had already served a deadline of April 15, to the management to conclude the wage hike negotiations with them.
