Bosch workers go on strike at Bangalore plant, production likely to be hit

Workers at auto component major Bosch Ltd’s Bangalore manufacturing facility in Adugodi have gone on an indefinite strike. The plant manufactures fuel injection pumps as well as some crucial parts for the company’s common-rail systems.

According to S Prasanna Kumar, president of the company’s workers union called Mico Employees Association (MEA), the workers declared a strike since the first shift on Tuesday as their charter of demands, which is pending before the management for the past 22 months, has not been positively met by the management.

As per the status today at 9.30am, he said the strike has entered into the second day. As the strike continues into the second day, production is likely to be hit if the worker unrest continues.

S Prasanna Kumar alleged the management planned to cut down some medical benefits and demanded over production that would not be logically possible even at the very best level of workforce.

"In spite of the union asking for some negotiable formula, now they are trying to impose it on the employees without having any discussions with us and they have threatened wage cut if it is not met," he added.

The management has also started issuing transfer orders to employees to shift to the Bidadi plant near Bangalore without even discussing facilities like transport and other issues, he added.

In its reaction to the strike, Bosch Ltd has termed the strike as illegal. In its statement, the company said, “Over a period of 20 months, 36 negotiation meetings have been held. During this negotiation process, regardless of the challenging business situation, the management has put forth its best offer for the union’s consideration, but hasn't been able to reach an agreement due to their unreasonable demands. The current offer is already one of the best in the region-cum-industry.

Further the company said it is unfortunate that the union has deviated from the dialogue process and resorted to an illegal strike, while the government is supporting a conciliation process through the Additional Labour Commisioner’s office. The company urges its workmen and union to acknowledge the current business situation and resolve this issue amicably through dialogue and cooperation.

The company claimed itself as one of the best paymasters in the manufacturing industry and offers the best working environment, welfare and medical benefits to its workmen associates, ensuring their growth and development. The company will continue to adopt a fair but firm approach.

However the company has not detailed whether the production will be hit as the strike has entered the second day.

On terming the strike as illegal by the company, Kumar said, "Calling it illegal is not legally right." He said that for not meeting workers’ demands, a statutory notice was issued to the management regarding the strike on September 6 itself, and "in spite of it, they have not come up with anything so we have gone on indefinite strike."

He also said the union had to resort to this as nothing worked out despite the labour department's intervention in the last three months. He said that 2,575 permanent workers and 700 temporary workers are part of the strike.

The company's Bangalore plant has a history of worker unrest, and the plant was shut down temporarily following a strike in September 2011.

In March last year, workers went on a tool-down strike and in November the company shut operations of the Bangalore plant due to another similar strike. In August this year, workers at the company's Jaipur plant also went on a tool-down strike but the matter was resolved within two days.

Founded in 1951, Bosch Ltd is India’s largest automotive component manufacturer and also one of the largest Indo-German companies in India. Bosch Ltd is also the flagship of the Bosch Group companies in India.