Why Hyundai's Chennai plant workers are up in arms

Hyundai Motor has over 2,200 permanent workers, around 3,500 trainees and another 5,000 contract workers in the Sriperumbudur facility.

A section of workers in Hyundai Motor’s Chennai plant held a one-day token hunger strike on Wednesday, as the wage settlement talks with the management were inconclusive.

The permanent workers, under the recognised union, had earlier decided to stay away from over time operations, and alleged the company was using the trainees to substitute skilled workers.

The United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE), the union which had entered into a wage settlement last time, has been in talks with the management for the settlement for the period 2018-2021.

However, the talks remain inconclusive, with the negotiation on the percentage of salary hike yet to see success, said sources from the company on condition of anonymity.

A Hyundai spokesperson refuted the allegation, saying, “At the moment we are engaged in wage negotiations with the recognised union.

"The talks are at an advanced stage, and are progressing smoothly. The employees, and union have supported the meeting of production targets.”

“At Hyundai Motor India,  our production lines are manned by our employees, but we also engage trainees.

"These trainees are on boarded after they have undergone an intensive one-year training at our plant, under senior supervisors. We do not employ unskilled workers on  the production lines,” said the company spokesperson.

Hyundai Motor has over 2,200 permanent workers, around 3,500 trainees and another 5,000 contract workers in the Sriperumbudur facility, they say.

Photograph: Babu/Reuters