Titagarh Wagons suspends work after unrest

Kolkata, Sept 6: Leading wagon maker Titagarh Wagons Ltd (TWL) on Saturday declared a temporary suspension of work at its wagon manufacturing factory near Kolkata after the workers went for a tooldown strike for an indefinite period.

The wagon making unit at Titagarh employs about 550 workers.

“All the workers at the unit suddenly went for an illegal tool-down strike without giving any prior no- tice after we suspended eight workers for their continuous indiscipline in the workplace. We thought it is best to issue suspension of work notice for a temporary period,” Umesh Chowdhary, vice chairman and managing director, Titagarh Wagons, told FE.

“The unruly behaviour and indiscipline of a section of workers were hampering productivity. So we took actions against the erring workers, but they have instigated the whole workforce at the factory to go for the

All the workers at the Bengal unit went on an illegal tool-down strike without giving any prior notice, say officials. Eight workers were suspended

strike,” Chowdhary said.

The company said its foundry at Titagarh is, however, running uninterruptedly.

Chowdhary said the management would soon initiate dialogues with the senior workers at the wagon factory to resume production.

Earlier, Hindustan Motors, makers of the iconic Ambassador cars, had declared suspension of work at its Uttarpara plant in West Bengal in May this year. The suspension was declared as the plant had been going through tough times in the past few years and its best efforts to revive the unit had failed.