Thaindian News

Chennai, Aug 31 (IANS) The workers’ strike at auto component manufacturer Comstar Automotive Technologies entered the 21st day Wednesday with employees deciding to go on a daylong fast Friday, said union officials.

“Despite the summons issued by the Tamil Nadu government to attend the conciliation meeting Tuesday, the company did not do so,” Comstar Automotive Technologies Employees’ Union general secretary D. Natarajan told IANS.

“We have decided to go on a daylong hunger strike Friday and send individual telegrams to Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to bring our plight to her notice,” he said.

He said the management did not attend the last four conciliation meetings.

The Tamil Nadu labour department had issued notice to Comstar Automotive to attend the conciliation meeting Aug 30 to sort out the differences.

According to Natarajan, the company wrote to the labour department saying they were not attending the meeting to protest against the assault of some officials by the workers.

“It is a totally false charge. As per our information, the police have closed the assault complaint lodged by the company,” Natarajan said.

Comstar Automotive officials were not available for comments.

The workers are demanding recognition of their union and negotiations over a three-year wage accord that ended March.

The company has around 490 permanent workers and around 350 temporary staff - trainees and apprentices, Natarajan said.

“The company has hired around 160 trainees after the permanent workers struck work Aug 11. The trainees and apprentices are being involved in actual production. As per law, they should not be directly involved in manufacturing activity,” Natarajan added.

Comstar Automotive, based in Sriperumbudur district, manufactures and supplies auto components like starters and alternators for cars and light commercial vehicles.

According to its website, it is a Tier-I supplier for companies like Ford Motor Company, Volvo, Tata Motors and others.