Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081957580300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Garment unit lockout shocks workers

Muralidhara Khajane

Management accused of taking unilateral decision

Management had rejected demands
of the union
Decision to affect
800 workers

MYSORE: The manufacturing sector in the Mysore district, which is facing problems because of various factors, especially “labour unrest”, suffered a jolt with the management of Flair Garments at Tandya Industrial Estate in Nanjangud taluk declaring lockout on Saturday.

With this, over 800 workers are now left to fend themselves.

The workers of the Flair Garments were in for a rude shock when they returned to work on Saturday as Friday (August 15) was a holiday. The first shift workers who arrived at the factory were shocked to see the lockout notice. On learning about the development, workers of other shifts rushed to factory, started raising slogans against the management. As the management had informed the police earlier, a Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) rushed to the spot immediately.

Perturbed by the development, workers immediately started their dharna in front of the factory gate and workers union affiliated to Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) sought the intervention of Labour Department.

According to CITU district secretary Jagadeesh, Flair Garments, a 100 per cent knitted garment unit started production in April 2004. Over 800 workers, including 600 women, were working in this garment unit, which was exporting its products to European countries.

‘Violation of norms’

Mr. Jagadeesh told The Hindu that the management had declared a lockout without even informing the union and it was gross violation of labour norms. The management had not revised the wages since the inception of the factory, although other garment industries revised wages recently. “Workers are facing a problem because of spiralling prices of essential commodities and they are finding it difficult t cope with the situation,” he said.

The union presented its charter of demands to the management asking for canteen facility, uniforms and supply of safety equipment, besides revision of wages. But the management was not ready to fulfil any of the demands. Instead of inviting them for talks, the management unilaterally announced a lockout, he said. Defending the decision of declaring lockout, official spokesperson of the management, Chandrashekar said that downing the shutters was inevitable in view of rigid stand of workers’ union.

“Workers were not cooperating in improving production in the last one year and company is incurring losses for the last 18 months. Efforts to ‘discipline’ the workers failed. Efforts of the former Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa and Siddaramaiah to find a solution to the problem failed. There was an attempt to sabotage work in boiler section and we decided to declare a lockout,” he said.

Mr. Chandrashekar said that it was not possible to fulfil the demands because of the management’s financial constraints.

Many industries have been closed recently in Nanjangud Industrial Area. According to Ramprasad, President of Nanjangud Industrial Association, Sujatha Textile Mills, Dunford Fabrics, Karim Silks, Kabini Papers, Biligiri Industries, Sridevi Packaging and Mysore Panel Boards are the prominent factories that were closed down.