Hyundai Spares Arm 'Mobis' Fires 300 for Joining Union


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The uneasy relationship between auto companies and contract workers has re-surfaced, this time in the industrial corridors of Sriperumbudur, near Chennai. At the receiving end are hundreds of Hyundai car owners whose vehicles are stuck at dealerships, for want of spare parts waiting to be shipped out of the factory.

Unlike other automobile companies where supply of spare parts is managed by the vehicle maker itself, Hyundai's spares business is under sister concern Mobis.
A few weeks ago, almost its entire staff, nearly all of them contract workers, were suspended from service by the management after they joined an AIADMK backed trade union Anna Thozhir Sangam.

With only skeletal operations currently underway with temp staffers, spare parts shipments from Mobis to Hyundai dealers has come down drastically, hitting customers whose cars are stuck for repairs.

"We have not got enough spare parts in recent weeks. Even if they have shipped some number, it does not match Hyundai's road presence in terms of vehicles. Customers are waiting and many of them think we are at fault. Things are slipping out of control," a dealer in Delhi said.

The Hyundai management did not wish to comment on the issue.

"Mobis management suspended its 300-plus contract workers overnight, as they signed up for a trade union with us. They also cancelled contracts with their contractor . They do not want any trade union, least of all a union which has political affiliation ," R Chinnaswamy, head of Anna Thozhir Sangam , said. He is also the AIADMK MLA from Singanallur constituency.

"Conciliatory talks have started with the management . We do not want to disrupt operations as our government is in power. We want to be a responsible trade union," he said, adding Mobis has recruited some temp staffers to continue work at the spare parts yard.

Mobis is a captive supplier to Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) — the country's second-largest passenger car manufacturer. Mobis's modular parts business comprises primarily of sourcing (from Tier II vendors) and assembling modules for HMIL. Apart from this, certain module components, namely moulded parts (like crash pads), are also manufactured in-house by Mobis.

Hyundai spares arm Mobis fires 300 for joining union - The Economic Times
 
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TVS Logistics labour strike could hit Hyundai plant

Production of cars at Hyundai Motor’s Chennai plant may be hit ahead of the crucial festival season, if a strike at its logistics vendor prolongs. About 1,300 workers of TVS Logistics Services Ltd. continued their strike for the second day Tuesday to press their demand for negotiated wage settlement. The workers of TVS Logistics at deployed at Hyundai Motor India Ltd's (HMIL) two plants who have struck work since Monday to press their demands.
Hyundai is outsourcing the logistics, material handling and other services to TVS Logistics since 2008. Hyundai has two plants near Chennai with a total production capacity of 630,000 units. According to TVS Logistics, the strike is illegal when the matter is pending with the labour department. The striking employees have also demanded reinstatement of dismissed worker and revoking suspension of three others, said a union official.

"The strike is continuing today (Tuesday). A conciliation meeting is scheduled in the afternoon. Based on the meeting outcome, it will be decided whether to continue the strike or resume work," R. Sridhar, general secretary of Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) told IANS. He was speaking on behalf of the workers of TVS Logistics. An official of TVS Logistics, preferring anonymity, told IANS that workers' wage settlement is done project/region wise as it depends on value added services that the customers opt for and on the project requirement on a case-to-case basis.

However, the strike has not affected the production schedules of Hyundai as sufficient back-up measures were taken by the company on Saturday, a company employee told IANS. He said supervisors at Hyundai plant are chipping in so that the assembly lines continue to hum with activity. "Operating forklifts by an untrained person is difficult. And if the strike continues, production at HMIL will be affected," the employee said, declining to be named.

TVS Logistics labour strike could hit Hyundai plant | WheelsUnplugged
 

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