Hind Motor management skips tripartite meet

The management of Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara plant skipped the tripartite meeting called by the labour department on Tuesday in connection with the suspension of work declared on Saturday.

State labour minister Purnendu Bose told PTI that the management did not turn up at the tripartite on Tuesday, but sought a bipartite meeting with the government.

"We feel it is discourteous on the part of the HM management for not responding to the call.

“But keeping in mind the interest of so many workers of the plant, we will have a bipartite meeting with it on May 29 in my room," Bose said.

Bose said the government would want to know what plans the management has for the factory.

"We want to know their intention."

Meanwhile, workers of the Uttarpara plant got agitated when the management did not turn up.

They requested the Labour Commissioner's office to ensure that there is no theft of materials from the plant during the closure period, Bose said.

Facing huge cash crunch and lack of orders for its iconic Ambassador passenger cars, the management declared suspension of work in an apparent effort to stop financial bleeding.

Image: The Hindustan Motors factory at Uttarpara; Photograph: Dipak Chakraborty