Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Pricol declares partial lockout in plant I

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore-based Pricol has declared a partial lockout at its plant I here.

A company spokesman said it had to declare partial lockout, which will affect 170 of the 2,000 workers in three wings at the facility, with effect from Thursday. The Management termed this as a fall-out of violent incidents reported at the plant on August 19 (a day prior to the general strike call by the trade union) injuring 15 staff. Following the incidents the police had registered cases against 16 employees for assault and damaging properties. On Friday, the workers questioned the reason behind the lockout when action had been initiated against 16, holding them responsible for the violence.

These workers demanded immediate lifting of the partial lockout. According to police sources, the management side, however, said a decision on lifting of the partial lockout could be taken only if the 600-odd workers who had gathered in front of the three gates of the plant dispersed, according to police sources. The spokesman said because of the blocking of the gates the other workers could not report for work on Friday, thus hitting production.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu