Bangalore, March 9 (IANS) Automotive component major Bosch Ltd declared a lockout at its Naganathapura plant on the outskirts of the city after employees went on a tool down strike demanding a wage revision, the company said Tuesday.
“We declared lockout at Naganathpura following labour threats to our plant managers Sunday and tool down strike since Monday,” a company official told IANS.

He said the lockout had been declared to protect the plant machinery.

The plant, located near the electronics city on Hosur road, about 30km from the city, employs over 1,000 people to manufacture spark plugs, alternators and generator starters for the Indian automotive industry and exports to the Germany-based Bosch GmbH global operations.

“The other plant at Aduguodi in the city is operating normally,” the official said.

The workers have been negotiating a long-term wage settlement with the company since January 1 after the previous settlement ended December 31, 2008.

The recognised union of the plant, Mico Karmikara Sangha I (MKS-N), had submitted a new charter of demands on July 29, 2009.

“Since August, the company held negotiations for 14 times with the sangha (MKS) on increase in wages, enhanced medical facilities for family members of our employees and other benefits,” the official noted.

He said the Indian subsidiary of the German firm had incurred a loss of Rs.60 million (Rs.6 crore) since February 13.

Set up originally as Motor India Company Ltd (MICO) in 1953, Bosch has 12 manufacturing sites and four development centres in Bangalore, Nashik in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Panjim in Goa, employing about 18,000 workforce.

The company posted net sales of Rs.4,750 crore (Rs.47.5 billion) and net profit of Rs.591 crore (Rs.5.91 billion) for the calendar year 2009.