The Royal Enfield and Yamaha India production facilities at Oragadam, Chennai are at a halt as plant workers went on strike since Monday morning. The strike is being led by R Sampat, Vice President, Working People Trade Union Council and of the Royal Enfield Employees Union along with working employees (permanent and contractual). They are demanding an increase in wages along with a host of other issues.
Consequently, 120 employees who were on probation and were participating in strike has been banned from entering the plant. Though, the company did not address any action against the demanded wage hike by the Union.
The labour Department has already informed company about the strike via an issued notice on August 13. Wherein, they demanded a meeting with the company officials. Not even once, but three times, the company officials failed to attain the meeting. Ultimately, the strike was the only option remained in front of employees. Though a conciliation meeting is also arranged on Sept 26, the management attended this or not, is a question for now.
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A huge number of employees are on strike including 2,500 around contractual workers and apprentices from Yamaha Motors factory, are supported by 117 members from Dongsan Automotive India, demanding for payment outstanding from over 7 months.
While 140 workers of Myoung Shin Automotive along with 3,000 workers of Eicher Motors Limited are standstill with others for the recognition of their union.
If going by the Sampat statement, the management did not want the formation of a union, founded last year. Also, they are not considering important issues like wage revision, bonuses that are not paid to the workers from the past three years.
Yamaha India moved to court and asked for the police protection if in case, the strike intensifies. Yamaha India filed case by saying, “ingress and aggress of vehicles and people from in and out of the factory premises and to further vacate the trespassing workmen by ensuring that no striking workers assemble illegally in any form within the radius of 200 metres from the petitioner’s (Yamaha’s) factory.