Major auto manufacturers in the Oragadam belt, including Royal Enfield and Yamaha, and a few auto ancilliary units are witnessing labour unrest for the past few days.
While the workers are steadfast in forming unions to fight for their rights, the managements are opposing the move.
Workers at Royal Enfield went on strike from Monday. One of the workers, who did not want to be named, said, “Four of our employees were terminated because we wanted to form a union. We also have some bonus issue,” he said.
R. Sampath, vice-president, Royal Enfield Employees Union, which is part of Working People Trade Union Council (WPTUC), alleged that workers had been forced to resign without reasons. “The management is refusing to talk to us on this issue,” he said.
To an email query, the official spokesperson of Royal Enfield replied, saying, “At Oragadam today, a majority of associate engineers are fully engaged in performing their roles; some of them did not report to work, though they were present in the facility.”
“We have forums that address matters related to the well-being of our workmen and are working to understand the issue that compelled a few workmen to refrain from reporting to work today. We are hopeful of arriving at a mutually beneficial solution,” the spokesman said.
Yamaha plant
At the Yamaha Motor India’s plant at Oragadam, more than 750 permanent workers went on strike. “The plant has more than 805 employees and Monday was the fourth day of their strike,” said S. Kannan, president, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Kancheepuram district.
According to him, the workers at the plant formed a union (India Yamaha Motor Thozhilalar Sangam) in July and wanted to register it but the management was not in favour of their decision.
One of the workers who wished anonymity, said that they had submitted a complaint under Section 2K in the Industrial Disputes Act.
“A meeting was arranged with officials at the Labour Commissionerate. The company initially refused to sanction leave for those who wanted to attend this meeting. They also terminated two people and handed over their termination letter at the gate citing weird reasons,” Mr. Kannan said.
“Despite the strike, machines have been running at the plant with the help of over 2,000 contract workers and trainees who have no prior skills,” he said. Yamaha employees said that they wanted their colleagues to be reinstated.
Yamaha officials did not respond to media queries.
Five union members with whom The Hindu spoke to said that the State government had not intervened in labour issues. “They are least bothered despite things getting out of control like how it was a decade ago,” said a unionist.
Over 140 permanent workers at Myoung Shin Automotive India Pvt Ltd have also been protesting for the last three weeks, demanding recognition of their union. The company officials could not be reached for comments.
E. Muthukumar, CITU Kancheepuram district secretary, said most of the companies continue to resist the formation of labour unions. CITU officials and other union members of various companies indicate that many firms in the Oragadam belt are struggling with labour issues and these could flare up.
