SOLIDARITY WITH DISPUTING TOYOTA WORKERS OF INDIA

Information from Bangalore, India (Feb. 15, 2006)

By V.J.K. Nair, Vice-President of CITU, General Secretary of Karnataka State Committee of CITU, and Advisor & Authorized Representative of TKMEU

We have held an all Trade Union Convention in Bangalore on the 13th of February.? It was attended by about 800 delegates drawn from different trade unions in Bangalore.? It has formed a permanent organization under the name and style Bangalore United Trade Union Forum,?CITU, AITUC, HMS, HMKP & TUCC besides, bank employees, insurance employees and government employees as also independent large unions like Motor Industries (Bosch) Goetze etc have joined this Forum. The forum adopted a Declaration and drawn up a month long action program which is likely to lead to a General Strike all over Bangalore in support of Toyota and other demands for labor law protection.

BANGALORE UNITED TRADE UNIONS' FORUM

Ref: Org/2/06

DECLARATION

THIS CONVENTION OF VARIOUS TRADE UNIONS IN BANGALORE, have been convened to establish a united forum of Trade Unions in Bangalore, to ensure that the attack on Labour Rights, particularly in the age of Liberalization & Globalization is not only resisted but rolled back. It aims at declaring to the World that Trade Unions are essential requirement to protect the interests of the people, not only the Working People, but also the democratic rights of the Whole People.

Governments are competing among themselves to attract capital on terms most favorable to the overseas investors, who come to seek huge profit, exploiting the skilled but cheap human resources available in our Country. Presenting an employer friendly image has become the fashion these days. The concomitant assurances the governments make to the foreign investors is that they will relax the labour laws or its administration.

Registration of trade unions, recognition of trade unions, collective bargaining, and administration of various labour laws has suffered. In this process the employers take undue advantage and mount offensive against trade unions.
Workers in Bangalore are facing the attacks from the employers, and the governments which are servile to them. The TU Movement has been facing severe challenges due to this policy. The working people and their organizations have been forced to launch determined efforts to counter these moves of the employers and the governments that were in power so far.

Toyota Struggle is at the height of these struggles, when a new government has been brought to power in the State. This management has gone on violating labour laws without being questioned. From 1999 onwards they have started a series of victimizations. Now the figure has crossed 50 wherein the worker leaders are thrown out. Six out of the ten office bearers of Toyota Kirloskar Employees' Association has been thrown out so far.

The management had `suspended' fifteen workers including the union's general secretary and vice president on the flimsy charge of distributing pamphlets in the bus yard, speaking to other workers during lunch time, giving a call to boycott the KYT exercises etc. The management ought to have completed the domestic enquiries within three months. But even after two years they have not completed the enquiries. It is because the charges were false and evidence had to be manufactured. The union which continuously agitated for the rejoining of the fifteen suspended employees had been allowed to be attacked by the government notifying Toyota Kirloskar as a Public Utility Service. Now, the Government has expanded the notification to include any Automobile Manufacturer or Auto part Manufacturer as Public Utility Service.

Toyota with impunity, refusing to negotiate with the Trade Union Kirloskar Motor Employees Union affiliated to CITU has succeeded in getting a reference on the question of justification of continuing the enquiry in violation of the Certified Standing Orders. In the mean time against the provisions of Sec.33 (1) (b) of the Industrial Disputes Act the management dismissed three of the fifteen workers on 4th Jan., 2006. The union had no other go than to launch an immediate strike, which has resulted in a lock out, then the government prohibiting the non existent strike, the arrests of the workers in a whole lot, removal of their pandal at Bannappa Park and so on. The Government did not issue the order under section 10B which the union wanted and the Conciliation Officer recommended i.e. issuing an order requiring the management to restore status quo ante as on the date of the strike, as also to institute a `Court of Inquiry".

This has encouraged the management to victimize another 27 workers immediately as the workers decided to report back to work on 24th January, 06. Surprisingly the management refused even to furnish the mandatory requirement of giving a statement of reasons for suspensions within one week, took the drastic step of deciding to `dismiss' the 27 workers and sent the proposals to the court seeking `express permission' for the proposed dismissals. This tactic they played to evade the `domestic enquiries' which they ought to have completed within three months. It was also designed to frustrate the union's demand for restoring status quo ante. This is a challenge to Rule of Law and Principles of Democracy.

Although, it is TKMEU & CITU which are organizing the workers and facing the challenge directly, the trade union movement has decided to come together and extend solidarity support to the union. It is due to fact that the challenge is not against any single Organization but against the whole working class and the people of the State, which the trade union movement as a whole decided to come together. The governments, past and present; state and the central have been insisting for Labour Laws to be relaxed and administered only favoring the managements. They say it is being done to enable faster industrial development. The forces of liberalization, as the employers & their lobby in the government can be grouped. Together also state that the process of liberalization is done with a 'Human Face'. It is our experience that the face so for revealed is inhuman. So this is the general experience of the Trade Union movement all over the world.

Therefore, various Trade Union organizations that met at AITUC Office on 07th February under the Preside ship of Com. M.C. Narasimhan and decided to form a solidarity forum under the name and style of "BANGALORE UNITED TRADE UNIONS FORUM" in order to extend solidarity support for attack on Trade Union rights, Human rights and Democratic rights of any people in the in Bangalore City, the Urban and Rural Districts of Bangalore. Accordingly this convention is being held.

This Convention being held on 13th February at Town Hall decide to form, a Committee for the "BUTUF", comprising of two representatives each at the District Level of each and every Central Trade Union and one representative each of every Industry Level Federation and Associations in the service sector.

This convention decided to find ways and means of facing the Toyota Challenge. The Convention will have to discuss and approve proposals to have area wise Campaigns from 20th February to 4th March. The campaign is to expose the false claims of the Management and Government (so far) and against the false propaganda in the media and so on and explain the correct picture to workers and the people everywhere. The Campaign will not only focus on Toyota Struggle but also take up the issues facing the working class in particular and the people in general from the multinational corporations / present state and central governments.

The Convention also has to discuss plan to have a large scale demonstrations in support of these demands on 7th March as also a General Strike before end of March. The date has to be either decided at this Convention itself or left to the BUTUF to decide later

TKMEU has demanded the State Government to issue orders under 10B requiring the management to restore status quo ante 6th Jan 06, to institute a Commission of Inquiry under Sec 10(1) (b) of the Industrial Disputes Act to go into the very basis of the dispute at Toyota Kirloskar, to order payment of full wages to all the suspended / dismissed workers, till they are taken back to work or the courts take the decision. The Union's demand for prosecution of the management for violating various provisions of Labour Law is also to be immediately done by the Government. Further the illegal practice of the Toyota Management to make the skilled workers to mop the floor should be ended forthwith. More than all the Toyota Management should end their refusal to sit with the union along with their authorized representatives for `collective bargaining.'
　　　
If these demands are not met within a reasonable time TKMEU may take their own action to launch another strike to be backed by BUTUF with its own proposal for a General Strike all over Bangalore towards the end of March, 2006. This convention may decide a suitable date for the General Strike and take steps to implement the same thought Bangalore.

Toyota: Do the Corporate Social Responsibility!
“February 11 Aichi Toyota General Action” - 1600 workers joined

Some 1600 workers from 15 prefectures of the country on February 11 carried on “Toyota General Action,” shouting “Toyota: Do the CSR inside and outside Japan!” to press Toyota Motor Corporation which makes an annual trillion yen profit in the past 3 consecutive years. It was sponsored by the Organizing Committee composed of 13 organizations including ZENROREN and AIROREN (Aichi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions).

At the rally held in Yamanote Park, Toyota City, President Katsuaki Hane of AIROREN in his address criticized Toyota management for no wage increase made in the past 4 years and emphasized that “The situation this year is different. Though it is only 1000 yen raise a month, the Toyota union has been compelled to make demand for wage hike. This is a result of our Toyota General Action.” Zenroren President Kanemichi Kumagai also made an address. Representatives of the pollution suit plaintiffs　and workers fighting against the Matsushita Plasma Display Co. in Osaka, and President Shigemi Ikuma of All Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers Union (JMIU) spoke. A solidarity message from the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) was introduced to the participants.

The rally adopted a resolution “Opposing to the structural reform policy of the Koizumi Cabinet which gives a first priority to the interest of Big Business and expand disparity among peoples, against big tax increase to hit particularly the common people and to defend the peace Constitution of Japan”.

After the rally the participants marched to the Toyota head office, shouting in unison “Improve working conditions of contract and temporary workers,” “Don’t impose unit price reduction to suppliers,” “More jobs to young workers!” In the morning on that day, workers staged street propaganda activity in front of JR Nagoya and Toyota Stations.

On February 10 prior to the “Toyota General Action,” Deputy Secretary General Yukio Iwata of ZENROREN, President Katsuaki Hane of AI-ROREN and other three representatives of Higashimikawa local federation, Air-pollution victim plaintiffs, and JCP Aichi Prefectural Committee, visited the Toyota head office and met General Manager Kenichi Yamaguchi, Administration Department, General Administration Division of Toyota.

Brother Iwata handed over a written demand addressed to Toyota Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, in which among others ZENROREN has made demand in behalf of the CITU that:

- Toyota Management obey national laws relating to employment in every country worldwide;
- Toyota Management stop victimization at Bangalore to take back the 15+27= 42 workers to employment;
- Toyota Management at Bangalore negotiate with Toyota Kirloskar Motors Employees Union.

Mr. Yamaguchi of Toyota confined himself to listening some points raised by the representatives and replied that he would just communicate to the relevant section.

<Pictures show the rally and demonstration on February 11, 2006.>

MESSAGE from the CITU Centre to "February 11, Aichi Toyota General Action"

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) warmly congratulates ZENROREN and all participants in the "February 11, Aichi Toyota General Action" for expressing firm solidarity for the TKM workers in Bangalore. The solidarity expressed by our Japanese brothers have greatly enthused the struggling?workers.

The CITU union has demanded that management should withdraw all victimisation measures against workers for participating in the strike. The Toyota management should respect Indian Laws and implement them fully. We also demand that the Toyota management in Bangalore should settle all the demands relating to wages and service condition by negotiating with the CITU union.

The solidarity expressed by ZENROREN will strengthen the bonds of friendship between the Indian and Japanese workers.

The Japanese multi-national companies operating in India are attacking workers trade union and democratic rights. The solidarity and support expressed by ZENROREN will certainly inspire the Indian workers to carry forward their struggles till the Japanese multi-national companies respect trade union rights.

Long live the friendship between Indian and Japanese workers!
Long live solidarity between the Toyota workers in India and Japan!

Yours fraternally,

M. K. Pandhe
President, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

Information from Bangalore, India (Feb. 8, 2006)

By V.J.K. Nair, Vice-President of CITU, General Secretary of Karnataka State Committee of CITU, and Advisor & Authorized Representative of TKMEU

We are very happy to note that Zenroren is pursuing Toyota with the “Feb 11 Aichi Toyota General Action”. Since we sent the last report in a swift development the Toyota Management at Bangalore has sent letters ‘proposal to dismissal’ to ‘27’ more workers allegedly connected with false charges of ‘violence’ etc., during the strike of 6th to 8th January 2006.

The same management had earlier refused to seek express permission of the Court before dismissing the ‘three workers’ and were stubborn refusing to listen to the advice of the conciliation officer to keep the three dismissals in abeyance.

Now they have proposed to dismiss the ‘27’ even without charging them, and sought express permission of the Court for the Dismissals. Thus they escaped from their responsibility to hold ‘domestic enquiries’ as per the standing orders.

The total score in this battle is that ‘42’ workers 6 out of 10 Officer Bearers are pushed out.

We have organized a ‘hunger strike’ camp at Bannappa Park, Bangalore from 05-02-2006 and have stepped up the campaign. Media have widely covered the same.

Many Trade Unions have come together to form a Bangalore United Trade Unions Forum, which is having a press conference on 13th and will launch an Action Programme in support of Toyota.

Toyota Kirloskar workers have proposed to hold a General Body Meeting on 19th and consider issuing another Notice of Strike.

By third week of March there is a possibility of entire workers of Bangalore resorting to a General Strike in support of Toyota Workers.

Please reflect these demands also on your Action Programme.

Demand:

- Toyota Management Obey National Laws relating to employment in every country Worldwide.
- Toyota Management stop victimization at Bangalore take back the 15+27=42 workers to employment.
- Toyota Management at Bangalore Negotiate with Toyota Kirloskar Motors Employees Union.

Information on a “February 11 Aichi Toyota General Action”(Feb. 7, 2006)

By ZENROREN International Department

Thank you for?your information of?the latest situation of the industrial dispute at?TKM in Bangalore, India.

We wish to express our respect for your great tenacity as well as?flexibility in leading the hard struggle against the?world?giant automobile maker Toyota.

Following?the "January 19 Action" at the first stage of our Spring Labor Offensive for 2006 in?the heart of Tokyo toward, among others, the?Tokyo head office of?Toyota, ZENROREN will be waging "Aichi (prefecture) General Action" to Toyota on February 10 and 11, 2006, to press various demands of workers and?common people?to?Toyota and its affiliated?companies by mobilizing more than 1500?ZENROREN members from?many other parts of the country.

While the Japanese workers’ wages have decreased in the past seven years consecutively, big companies have been estimated to make substantial profit in the current term closing in March 2006, too. Toyota, in particular, makes more than 1 trillion yen of profit to have become one of the world largest companies which is influential inside and outside Japan. Toyota is not only the top corporation in automobile industry with the wide range of related businesses but also a key player in the economic and political arena of the country: Toyota holds a big voice at the Prime Minister’s advisory body, Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, to play a leading role in proposing and promoting such bad politics as deregulation, labor laws revision, consumption tax increase, and makes misuse of Chairmanship of the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) to manipulate politics by money power, which we should never overlook.

Main slogans of the “February 11 Aichi Toyota General Action” are:

- Don’t evade the Corporate Social Responsibility, Toyota! Do the CSR at home and abroad!

- Stop intensifying work! Improve working conditions, wage hike and shorter work hours! Turn contract and temporary workers to regular employment! Expand employment opportunity for the youth!

- Guarantee an appropriate unit price to external suppliers! Stop bullying subcontractors!

- Establish a bronchial asthma relief project!

On February 11 afternoon, we will organize a rally at the Yamanote Park at Toyota City, 1.3 km from the Toyota factory, where ZENROREN President Kanemichi Kumagai and AI-ROREN President Katsuaki Hane as well as a Toyota workers, representatives of pollution suit plaintiffs and small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs’ federation will speak. After the rally, participants will be holding a demonstration toward the main gate of Toyota plant. Participants then will be separated into four groups to stage street propaganda action in front of the gates of the Head Office, Motomachi, Takaoka and Tsutsumi plants respectively.

Prior to the “February 11 Aichi Toyota General Action,” some five representatives of AI-ROREN, ZENROREN, Higashimikawa local federation, Air-pollution victim plaintiffs, Diesel-Kyoto (joint struggle council of diesel industry workers’ unions), and JCP Aichi Prefectural Committee, will meet the Toyota management at its Head Office in Toyota City on February 10 to call for the pressing demands of working people, including the earliest solution of the TKM labor dispute in Bangalore, India, in the interest of the workers and their union.

Information from Bangalore, India (Jan. 27, 2006)

By V.J.K. Nair, Vice-President of CITU, General Secretary of Karnataka State Committee of CITU, and Advisor & Authorized Representative of TKMEU

LATEST SITUATION REGARDING THE TOYOTA KIRLOSKAR MOTOR DISPUTE AT BANGALORE AS ON 27TH JANUARY 2006

The management had announced in the papers on 20th January ‘lifting’ of the lockout effective from the general shift of 21st. They wanted individual undertaking to be signed, before allowing the workers entry. The union decided to ‘send’ the workers to the factory gate in their own hired vehicles; to report that they are prepared to work to hand over a letter from the union to the effect that the workmen will maintain production norms, discipline, observe standing orders and maintain safety.

Though the union requested BANGALORE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT CORPORATION, who normally hire buses to anyone who requests on the 20th night and were assured the same, the management of BMTC when approached for the buses on the 21st morning, they refused to send any vehicle to Bidadi Industrial Area. It is clear that the management wanted the plans of the union/ workmen to fail on 21st, as they wanted individuals to report to work and not in a collective.

After examining various options such as marching to the factory on using any other mode (partially_ or staging a road blockade, we opted for the workmen to assemble in a park in front of the Office of the Principal Secretary, Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka. The workers numbering about 800 assembled near the Labour Secretary’s Office by about 08.30a.m on 21st to demand that the government refer the dispute to adjudication and issue orders to ensure that the management start production as it is (Claimed to be) a public utility service with status quo ante 6-1-2006. Within half an hour of the workers led by S. Meenakshisundaram, Bangalore District General Secretary of CITU, the police swooped down on the workers and started rounding them up. The DCP (Central) Mr.Chabbi himself assaulted Com. Meenakshisundaram and dragged him to a van, along with many other workers. Gradually all the workers were taken to a reserve police ground near Koramangala. The Police did not treat the workers with the respect they deserve. They were not fed properly. MICO (Motor Industries Company) Employees Association arranged food and the police allowed the workers to be fed. Upon political intervention and social pressure, as many factories held gate meetings and condemned the arrest of the workmen they were released on self-bond. They police took down the names of only 600 workers and released to the press suppressing even that number and said that only 450 workers were detained.

The Police dismantled the tent, public address system etc., and took it away. Only a demonstration of CITU activists opposed to the Ulsoor Gate Police Station that took away the tent and paraphernalia made them to return the materials to the union.

The pressure of assembling near the Multistoried Buildings housing the Labour Secretary’s Office, the arrest of the workmen etc., made the Government to immediately refer the dispute for adjudication to a Labour Court on 21st itself. The reference of the issue of justifiability of the strike and lockout was made. The Government prohibited the continuation of the strike ‘even though’ there was no strike at the time of the ‘prohibition’. The Government did not ‘prohibit’ the ‘lockout’ as according to them the lockout had been already lifted.

22nd being a Sunday it was used for consultations, the union called for the General Body Meeting on 23rd Monday, which was duly held. In the meantime workers from all over Bangalore came in support of the Struggling Toyota Workers. Three leaders of Honda Motor Workers from Gurgaon who had a bitter struggle last August had come all the way to Bangalore and greeted the Toyota Workers on 23rd at Bannappa Park where the General Body Meeting was being held. The Management had in the meantime suspended a fresh 27 more workers totaling their number to 42 as on date.

The union General Body meeting held on 23rd unanimously resolved to report fro duty on 24th, but not to sign the undertaking in the form, which it was provided to the individuals, to take spot decision by the available leaders. At first the management declared that they would not take any worker without the undertaking. They then changed their stand and invited the remaining four of the Office Bearers to talk; but got one among them arrested and detained by the police. The Management had hired many batch of ‘Goondas’ the attack the workers, if they decide to march to the city on their war and hundreds of policemen ready to lathi charge or fire on the workers, if they go back without signing the undertaking.

With the mobile phones being used the CITU leaders guided the leaders on the spot, as the management, the police and others were not allowing the CITU leaders to go to the factory gate. The union finally succeeded in getting the form of undertaking changed and got the objectionable portion removed. The workers could not be addressed by the CITU leaders other than by mobile phone loudspeaker. The CITU District Committee endorsed the ‘modified’ form of undertaking and requested the workers to resume work, otherwise the management and the government would have treated that the workers are continuing the strike despite the prohibition by the Government. Although the workers were reluctant to give any undertaking the persuasion by the CITU Leaders Made them to resume work by AN of 24th.

The management refused to allow the workers to carry the mobile phone inside. The conditions became worse for the union as the workers were sought to be divided and a campaign was unleashed to get the CITU affiliation removed etc.,

The union held a General body Meeting in a ‘Hall’ at Kengeri Satellite Town nearest to Bidadi on the republic day. Even though a section of the workmen posed several questions, showed their resentment at the leadership (CITU) the overwhelming force of the workers who listened to the CITU leaders, Meenakshi Sundaram and VJK Nair, unanimously approved the plans of CITU to carry on the struggle outside the plant in the City, mobilizing support from all trade unions. The meeting ended with workers razing slogans in favour of CITU and against the management.

The plans for agitation is to pressurize the Government to order status quo ante, 6th January whereby the 27 newly suspended workers shall be allowed to work, the three dismissed workers against whose dismissals the strike started on 6th January, the justification of whose dismissals are referred to the Labour Court, ‘be granted’ interim relief, a Court of Inquiry be instituted, and the management be prosecuted for violation of Industrial Disputes Act, in dismissing the ‘three workers’ etc.

The union has chalked out a plan of relay hunger strike at first, and an indefinite fast, Bangalore City wide campaign by a campaign committee, to involve all the unions in the campaign committee, and to organize civic action to pressurize the government to bring about a settlement of the dispute or orders as demanded by the union.

The relay hunger strike will start on 29th and a month long campaign is planned by the union and frequent reports will be sent about the same.

Mail from CITU (20/01/2006, 18:03)

Dear Comrades,

Thank you for your letter dated January 19, 2006 along with message by Comrade Mistuo Bannai, Secretary General, ZENROREN regarding the illegal and arbitrary activities of the Toyota Kirloskar Motor management at Bangalore.
It will no doubt inspire the workers of the said company in their just struggle.

The message has been conveyed to the workers and we have released it to the press. The CITU very much appreciates the solidarity action by the ZENROREN and it will strengthen the ties of friendship between the Indian and Japanese workers.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,
M. K. Pandhe
President

Centre of Indian Trade Unions

Communication from ZENROREN (Jan. 19, 2006)

Please find attached herewith a message of solidarity from ZENROREN and some photos.

The ZENROREN and the Joint Struggle Committee for 2006 Spring Labor Offensive organized today "January 19 Action" in the center of Tokyo toward NTT, Toyota, Ministries of Finance and of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), holding various pressing demands.

At the rally in front of the Tokyo Head Office of Toyota Motor Corporation, ZENROREN President Kanemichi Kumagai in his sponsor's address referred to the incident at the TKM in Bangalore, India, criticized the illegal and arbitrary actions of the its management and demanded immediate withdrawal of the dismissal. After the rally, a 4-member delegation visited the Office and handed over a written demand for the 2006 Spring Labor Offensive which includes the matter of the TKM of India. Attached photos tell a state of the rally.

In solidarity,
Yours fraternally,

International Department, ZENROREN

Dear Colleagues,

We are surprised at your notification of the illegal and arbitrary actions of the Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) management in their factory at Bangalore, India. Toyota Motor Corporation, which owns 89 percent of the TKM factory, is one of the world‘s giant multinationals and its Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, who is nicknamed “the business circles’ Premier,” assumes Chairman of the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). We cannot restrain our indignation with the TKM management for its little respect for the laws of your land and behaving as if they are beyond any discipline and legal obligation.

In the name of 1.3 million members of ZENROREN and in place of its Executive Committee, I wish to express our fraternal solidarity with Brothers and Sisters of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and particularly those of its Karnataka State Committee who are struggling against the arbitrary dismissal of 3 workers at the TKM factory and demanding their reinstatement.

The Toyota Motor Corporation operates all over the world, including India. We demand that it should do its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) by observing international labor standards on multinational corporations enshrined in the ILO “Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy” and OECD “Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises” including its “Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”.

The ZENROREN reiterates its commitment to our common struggle without frontier against multinationals’ highhanded activity and for social control over them.

In firm solidarity with you,

Mistuo Bannai
Secretary-General
ZENROREN

Mail from CITU (Jan. 11, 12006)

To:
The Secretary General
ZENROREN
Tokyo, Japan

Dear Comrade,

We are constrained to bring to your notice the illegal and arbitrary actions of the management of M/s Toyota-Kirolskar Motors Limited in their factory at Bangalore, India. The management have little respect for the laws of the land and are behaving as if they are beyond any discipline and legal obligation.

The management dismissed 3 workers on 3rd January 2006 arbitrarily without any justification. The management had brought some charges against 15 workmen and the matter was before an Industrial Tribunal for hearing. When such cases are before any tribunals, the company cannot terminate from job or punish him in any other way. This is Indian Law. But violating the law, 3 workers out of the 15 were terminated from service.

The workers went on strike against such dismissal. The officers of the Labour Department of the State of Karnataka advised the management to take the workers back to work, on 7th January 2006. But the management refused to do so and declared lock-out on 8th January 2006.

We are sorry to say that this case reminds us of the incident of Honda factory at Gurgaon, near Delhi.＊

We hope that workers in Toyota Motor Industries in particular or the workers in the automobile industries in general in Japan under your leadership, shall come forward against such illegal actions by the management.

Your solidarity actions shall be of great inspiration and support to the struggling workers in Toyota-Kirloskar Motors Limited.

With greetings,
Yours fraternally,

Chittabrata Majumdar
General Secretary
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

＊ In response to the appeal from All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions?(CITU) respectively, the ZENROREN on 3 August 2005 sent?its messages of solidarity to the above two centers and Honda workers of India, which you can find in “What’s New from ‘ZENROREN’”