Over 400 workers of Ford India Ltd who were protesting the dismissal of nine co-workers were detained on Tuesday night, according to union sources.
Office bearers of Ford India Employees Union said the workers were protesting the dismissal of the nine workers on Tuesday afternoon on charges of violating administrative procedures.
The union representatives had taken up the issue with the management as they felt the action was too harsh and disproportionate to the offense, if any. However, the management had not relented.
A union representative said the protestors had decided to go on strike and gathered within the car manufacturing plant complex, in the bus parking area. The police had arrived around midnight and asked them to disperse. But the workers had refused and courted arrested. The police let them off on Wednesday evening.
A conciliation meeting mediated by the State Government Labour Department is to be held on Thursday. Meanwhile, the workers plan to continue their demonstration, they said.
Production not hit
However, production at the car manufacturing plant at Maraimalai Nagar, about 50 km south of Chennai on National Highway 45 is not likely to be affected, say union sources.
Only one in four of the 4,700 employees are permanent workers. The others are either apprentices or are on contract. Over 750 permanent workers are members of the independent union which is a registered body, but not recognised by the management, union representatives said.
PTI report adds: Ford India confirmed that services of nine employees had been ‘terminated' for violating the company's code of integrity. “Their employment was terminated after due enquiry process,” a company statement said.
However, it clarified that the plant continues to operate its “normal production schedule.”