Toyota to lift lock out on Saturday

Mumbai: Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced today the lifting of the lockout at its plant in Bidadi, near Bangalore, with effect from tomorrow, in response to a request by employees who want to return to work. The company said in a statement that it would resume production on Saturday at the plant.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd, is the joint venture between Toyota Motors with 89 per cent control and the Kirloskar group, which holds the remaining 11 per cent. The management control is with the Japanese auto giant.

A R Shankar general manager of the Bidadi plant, said the management had decided to lift the lockout, after workers expressed willingness to return. However, employees would first have to sign a good conduct undertaking to maintain discipline and ensure full production, he said.

The union representing the workers said that it would have to meet to discuss whether to accept the company''s proposal. About 60 per cent of the factory''s 2,350 workers are part of the plant''s union. A meeting of the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union is slated to be held today to decide on its response to the company''s announcement on lifting lock-out and resuming production a union official said.

The factory has maintained partial production with help of its 800 non-unionised staff, though output had fallen to 30 vehicles daily from 92.

The plant had been shut down for a fortnight when workers struck work on January 6, this year, following the dismissal of three workers the previous day. Ten others workers were also reported to have been suspended, pending investigation into acts of misconduct, including an assault on a supervisor in 2004.