Ashok Leyland workers’ strike

HOSUR: About 500 employees in the Ashok Leyland Plant I in Hosur observed a sit-in strike on Thursday to protest against the management’s move to transfer 353 employees to Plant II in Hosur which, the workers’ unions alleged, violated an agreement signed by the management and the unions two-and-a-half months ago. The strike was led by a group of employees belonging to CITU, Labour Front and AIADMK labour unions.

The unions’ representatives said they had signed a wage agreement with the management on May 5 this year which raised the monthly salary of the employees by an average of Rs. 5,500.

Meanwhile, the management notified on July 28 that it had identified 353 employees in excess in Plant I and sought the willingness of the employees to be shifted to Plant II.

The union leaders alleged that the management in connivance with the Ashok Leyland Employees Union was planning gradual retrenchment of some employees.

The management sources told The Hindu that they had only asked 353 excess employees whether they could be transferred to another plant. “We are not forcing any individual in this regard,” the management sources said.