Hindustan Unilever locks out Assam factory

Guwahati, Jul 15: Indefinite lock out was declared from today at the Hindustan Unilever Limited's (HUL) Personal Products factory at Doomdoma in Tinsukia district of upper Assam after a week-long labour unrest.

Work had been halted at the factory since July 6 last following a dispute between the management and the employees over payment of Settlement Implementation Allowance (SIA).

Tinsukia Assistant Labour Commissioner M N Konwar said over telephone that a senior management official of the factory had informed him over phone this afternoon that the management had declared a factory lock out, with a HUL release confirming the development.

"I have been verbally communicated the message and am yet to receive any written intimation," Mr Konwar added.

The Assistant Labour Commissioner said the factory management had informed him of not participating in a talk with the workers' union tomorrow, arranged by the Labour Commission, on instructions from its headquarters.

He had urged the management to come for the discussion and pointed out that if the HUL went for a settlement directly with the employees, the management could face legal proceedings under the Industrial Dispute Act.

Trouble erupted after the management had refused to pay the SIA to employees from April this year, as was agreed upon in 2004.

An HUL press release claimed that all the clauses of the 2004 agreement had not been adhered to and the workers had indulged in various illegal activities such as flash strikes and work stoppages.

On July 6, the workers had illegally confined 18 members of the management, including a lady officer, for 16 hours, Mr Konwar had confirmed.

With all works coming to a standstill since then, the management had suspended eight workers involved in the July 6 incident.

The Assistantt Commissioner informed the workers had submitted an undertaking in writing that they would not disrupt work henceforth as demanded by the management on July 13 for facilitating talks but the HUL had not responded to it.

The HUL factory was set up in Doomdoma in 2001, which provided direct employment to 800 local people and indirect employment to several thousands.

UNI