Thaindian News

Chennai, July 26 (IANS) Six workers at India’s second largest car company Hyundai Motor India fainted and had to be hospitalised Sunday evening when they were on a sit-in strike for the fourth day.
“The workers have not taken any food since yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. The management did not allow any food from outside,” said Hyundai Motor India Employees Union vice-president K. Thangapandian.

Union members outside the factory will now go on a hunger-strike from Monday at the Irrungattukottai plant.

“They (the management) had cut off power and water connection in the assembly area where workers are on a sit-in strike. We have asked them to restore the power and water connection,” Thangapandian told IANS.

Around 1,000 workers, belonging to the union, struck work Thursday evening protesting against a wage agreement signed between the management and a workers’ committee.

After hours of intense discussions Saturday, talks between the striking workers and the Hyundai management ended in a stalemate.

Union leaders say the workers’ committee, set up by the management, does not represent the employees and that the agreement was against a directive of the labour commissioner.

“The management has violated the directive given by the labour commissioner that no wage agreement should be entered into with the worker’s committee,” Thangapandian said.

Added union president A. Edison Periera: “Our two major demands are taking back around 80 dismissed workers and granting recognition to our union.”