Toyota Kirloskar India Lifts Lockout At Karnataka Plant

Last year, in November, Toyota Kirloskar Motor had to halt the manufacturing activities at its Karnataka-based facilities due to the ongoing sit-in strike of the members of worker union at the company’s campus. Reportedly, the union started the protest to show their dissent over the “unilateral increase of the workload”.

Toyota Kirloskar has withdrawn a lockout at its Karnataka facilties 

As TKM Employees Union’s strike kept going, the company responded with the second lock-out on November 23^rd. Shortly after, the production of the facility has resumed with 1,200 workers who were willing to continue working with discipline. Normally, the two plants in Bidadi, Karnataka have a combined manufacturing capacity of up to 2,10,000 units a year. During the time of the lockout, the production capacity of Bidadi plans was lowered to 100 units per day, which showed a sharp drop from the usual capacity of 350-400 units a day.

Later on, Toyota had a meeting with Dr Ashwathnarayan, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, which helped to improve the situation at Toyota’s premises. As a result, TKM Management can withdraw the lockout without having to compromise the company’s discipline and manufacturing productivity.

After the lift of the lockout, the second shift began yesterday. Employees will get back to work by signing a simple undertaking of good behaviour. In the meanwhile, the suspension pending enquiry of 66 unionized employees for their serious misbehaviour will continue. In addition, domestic enquires will be conducted in line with the principles of Natural Justice.

Workers return to work after signing a simple undertaking of good conduct 

As per the latest statement, Toyota said, “Our success depends upon the dedication of our team members. Furthermore, as a people-centric company, TKM has been at the forefront of providing a conducive working environment including competitive compensation packages, as well as unique welfare measures over and above the statutory requirements, to improve the quality of life of its workforce."

It adds, “As a world-class manufacturing company, we will continue to introduce favourable and unique policies that support our employee while further fostering a safe and rewarding working environment that suits the diverse needs of our team members and their families. The safety and well-being of all our stakeholders and especially our employees being of utmost importance to us, and we would like to emphasize that basic discipline will continue to be the cornerstone of our business principles and we will not compromise on behaviour and acts that threaten Toyota’s safety philosophy and its brand value in the country.”