Flash Labor Strike in Hyundai Motors: Workers demands

recognition and re-instatement of dismissed employees

Workers of the Hyundai Motor India Limited in Sriperumbudur near

Chennai, has launched a flash strike demanding recognition to their union and re-
instatement of dismissed employees.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the second largest car manufacturer,
once again faced labor problems at its unit at suburban Sriperumbudur as Hyundai
Motors India Employees Union (HMIEU) launched an indefinite ''sit in strike'', on 6th
June 2010,Monday.

Karunanidhi's Intervention Sought

HMIEU Honorary Secretary A Soundararajan, in a statement here, said the

strike was launched from the mid-night of June six and sought the intervention of Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to resolve the issue.

He said the strike had been launched pressing a charter of demands,

including recognition of the Union, reinstatement of 67 dismissed employees,
cancellation of transfer orders and withdrawal of the practice of levying a fine of Rs
4,500 if a worker took leave for a day.

A release from Hyundai India said as a result of the strike by around 150
workers the management was forced to suspend its production today ( Monday)
resulting in a loss of 2200 cars with a value of around Rs. 65 crore.

''HMIL management is seeking government's intervention and has also

approached the Commissioner of Labour’s office for an early settlement to the dispute.
HMIL employs around 10,000 people in its Chennai factory with a production capacity of
six lakh units/annum,'' it said.

Mr. Soundararajan said after labor dispute broke out in January, the
Management, citing the arrival of South Korean President, reached an MoU with
the Union and had agreed to reconsider the sacking of 67 employees. However,
despite the Commissioner for Labor Welfare directing the Management to take
back 35 of the 67 employees, it was refusing to implement the order and hold talks
with the Union, he said.

Even as the Union was fighting for the reinstatement of the sacked
employees, the Management, adding ''salt to the injury'', placed under suspension four
more employees on June 6, forcing the Union to launch the ''sit in strike'', he said.
 The Hyundai release said it never gave an undertaking to reinstate 67
employees, who had been dismissed for gross misconduct leading to damage of company
property and violence against fellow workers.

''Currently, conciliation pertaining to labor issues are pending before the

Deputy Commissioner of Labor 11, Chennai, and the next date for conciliation meeting is
June 8 before the Commissioner of Labour.'' It said the current strike was violative of the
orders of the District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Sriperumbudur, which ''prohibits
any unlawful activity within the factory and within 100 meters radius of the factory
premises,'' it said.

Strike halts Hyundai production at Tamil Nadu plant

The Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) went on a flash
strike here on Monday halting production at the company’s manufacturing unit in Tamil
Nadu’s Sriperumbudur town.

They demanded the reinstatement of 67 colleagues dismissed after a strike

in July.

Though only 150 employees out of 10,000 were on strike, Hyundai said it
decided to suspend production because it was unsure of maintaining the quality of cars
made during the labour unrest.

“Since yesterday midnight we have gone on strike demanding reinstatement

of the dismissed 67 employees. We also want the company to recognise the union and as
a part of our crusade, 410 workers within the plant and 400 others outside are protesting
against the management and have gone on strike,” said Edison Perira, a leader of
Hyundai Workers Union.

He contended that the company management had not recognised the

union, a registered body that was formed in 2007 and the only union in the
company.

He also charged that the services of the employees were not regularised
and the management was hiring contract employees for direct manufacturing,
which they alleged was illegal.

Meanwhile, R Sethuraman, Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate

Affairs, of Hyundai Motor India Limited said that certain employees were dismissed for
vandalising company’s property and the court also upheld the management’s
decision.

He also said that the company is ready to take back some of the employees
on humanitarian grounds.