Toyota terminates 45 workers for ‘misconduct’ after inquiry

The move has wiped out elected leadership of union, say union representative

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) on Saturday terminated 45 of its workers for “proven misconduct” following an inquiry. Employees’ union, however, said the company had “wiped out” its entire elected leadership in order to “paralyse it or eliminate it”.

“With the inquiries completed, the management has decided to terminate 45 workmen, who had indulged in serious acts of misconduct, and remaining members are taken back to work with minor disciplinary actions,” said the company in response to a query from The Hindu.

Operations of the Japanese auto major’s Bidadi unit in Karnataka were affected by a series of lockouts, prolonged strikes, and work disruptions after its employees protested the suspension of a union member, and later allegedly resorted to destructive behaviour on the factory premises in November last year.