GM to start two shifts at halol plant from Friday

With the 48-hour deadline given to workers coming to an end Friday morning, General Motors India said on Thursday that it plans to start two-shift production at the company's Halol plant, irrespective of whether the remaining 250 workers join work or not.

P Balendran, director and vice-president (corporate affairs), GM India, said, "Around 600 people have already reported to work, and around 250 are still on strike. The 48-hour deadline ends tomorrow morning and we hope that everyone will report to work by then. If not, we will go in for additional recruitments."

The plant produced about 100 vehicles on Thursday.

GM India had issued an appeal to workers on Tuesday, asking everyone to report to work by Friday.

It had also said that in case workers failed to resume duty, the organisation would be forced to take disciplinary action, which might result in loss of jobs to striking employees.

Balendran met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

He, however, claimed the meeting was a routine one, an appointment for which was fixed around two weeks before, and not specifically on the recent strike.

"The government, on its part, has been very cooperative. It has already declared the strike as illegal and also declared a Section 144 around the plant site from last night," he said.

A senior official at the state labour department said the impasse at the plant is yet to be over.

"The company has asked workers to report back to work unconditionally, and will address their issues only after that. The workers, on their part, have still not bowed down to the appeal from the company."