Saturday, January 7 2006 18:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Production work at Toyota Kirloskar Motor at Bidadi on the city outskirts came to a standstill today (Jan 7, 2006) following a workers' strike, sources in the company and union said.

The labour unrest started after TKM reinstated one employee and dismissed three who the company said have been found guilty of certain acts of serious misconducts, including assault on supervisors after holding an enquiry.

TKM is a joint venture between Japan's Toyota Motor Corp and the Kirloskar group.

According to the TKM Management, some employees have opposed the findings of the enquiry and have resorted to stoppage of work without prior notice of 14 days as per the Industrial Disputes Act 1947 and struck work illegally.

"They also prevented other employees forcibly from working," TKM said.

The labour department has already initiated conciliation proceedings and TKM hoped good counsel will prevail upon employees and pave the way to restore normalcy at the earliest.

There are 2,378 people on the rolls of TKM of which 1,550 are union-affiliated workers, according to the company management.

TKM said in case of other 10 suspended employees pending enquiry, action will depend upon the outcome of the enquiry.

"We always have been fair and firm in all our actions," TKM said.

Toyota started its Indian operations in 1997 with an investment of Rs 700 crore. It currently has a production capacity of 60,000 units annually.

Union leaders were not available for comment immediately.