The 18 suspended workers of Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL), who were protesting in front of the Chennai plant of the company, were arrested on Wednesday. The workers were demanding their reinstatement. It is to be mentioned here that Hyundai Motors India Employee Union (HMIEU) has threatened on Tuesday that it will protest against the company’s plants if the management not reinstates the sacked worker. Hyundai Motors management hasn’t recognized the HMIEU so far.
While condemning the action of police, Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) District Secretary Muthukumar said, "We strongly condemn it. We hope they will be released soon. If not, we will decide on the next course of action."
The workers who are protesting for the reinstatement are those striking workers who were suspended by the Hyundai management in June last year along with 14 others, following a three day long strike at the company’s Chennai plant in June 2010. Out of 32 sacked workers, the company had taken back 14 workers who were not guilty of serious charges of violations, after signing a tripartite agreement with workers in the presence of the government in December 2010.
The company has already said that the protest of workers is illegal as it violates the terms of the agreement signed in December 2010.
