HC directed MRF to pay interim payment to empoloyees

Chennai, Jan 10 (UNI) Madras High Court today directed the management of MRF Tyres to pay an interim payment of Rs 5,500 to each employee during the lockout period, pending disposal of the writ petition filed by the company.

Admitting the petition, Mr Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar directed the company to make the payment to the 1,200 employees by January 13 and asked the State Government to file its counter on January 24, before posting the case for further hearing to January 28.

Mr KAU Nair, the Manager of the Tiruvottiyur plant of MRF had in the petition sought to quash the order of the Labour and Employment Secretary ruling the lockout declared on December three last, as illegal.

He submitted that a section of the workmen had resorted to work stoppages last year. There was a concerted refusal to work, amounting to strike between October 26 and 29 last, following which a token lockout was declared on October 30. Even while declaring the one-day lockout, the workmen were given notice that if they persist with halting work after the lockout, the management would have no option, but to declare an indefinite lockout under Sec 24(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act.

UNI XR GD SU AS2031