Toyota workers, officials set for talks

Over 400 Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union members have ended their sit-in protest outside the labour commissioner's office in Bangalore, to pave the way for holding conciliatory talks between the workers' representatives and the management on January 12.

The sit-in, which began on January 9, was called off last evening. Only the union's elected office bearers and authorised representatives, the CITU leaders, would be present at the labour commissioner's office premises for the talks, union leaders said.

The decision was taken following the labour commissioner's suggestion that the workers vacate the premises to pave the way for the talks, the sources said.

Management representatives, who were to meet the union leaders for talks on January 9, had stayed away from the meeting, stating the "atmosphere was tense and not conducive for holding such talks" at the venue, where over 400 workers were holding a sit-in protest.

The workers had initially said they would not budge from the place till the management came for talks. The TKM had announced a lock out of its factory at Bidadi near Bangalore on January 8, following a snap strike by the union on January 6 to protest what they called, the "illegal" dismissal of three workers.