Nokia Factory Hit by Strike Action

One of Nokia's factories was hit by a strike last week when staff at the factory in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, India walked out over wage demands. The strike was called off after 10 hours when the labour department gave the staff and management until next week to settle the dispute.

The strike was called from Friday morning after a pay proposal was made by management which the staff felt was unacceptable.

Local media reported the workers as saying all 8,000 staff took part in the strike, although the management disputed this saying the strike turnout was considerably lower. It has been claimed that production of 300,000 handsets was disrupted by the strike.

"The strike was launched after the management revised salaries on Thursday. The strike began early morning after the first shift employees finished their work and the other workers joined them as they came in for work. There was no production in any of the departments," an employee at the Nokia facility told Asian Age on the condition of anonymity. "We have been asking for a hike since last year. We did not get the yearly hike in April too because of recession. Today, the company made an announcement that employees who have completed four years would get an increase of Rs 1,400 per month and entry-level trainees would be given Rs 200 per month hike. The employees felt this hike would make no material difference to them," he added.

Sources who attended the meeting told the Business Standard newspaper that if the management and workers would not compromise before August 24, the labour department would intervene.

On the web: Business Standard - Asian Age

Posted to the site on 16th August 2009