Tuesday, January 10 2006 14:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)-affiliated members of the Toyota-Kirlosakar Union of the Bidadi unit today (Jan 10, 2006) continued to stage a sit-in in front of the Labour Commissioner's office since last evening demanding an early scheduling of conciliatory talks between the management and the union.

Over 400 workers had staged a sit-in last afternoon following failure of the management representatives to turn up for the scheduled talks yesterday, stating the atmosphere was not 'conducive to hold such talks' given the tense atmosphere created by the union workers.

The management had urged for deferring the talks by two weeks. However, the Labour Commissioner has now fixed the talks for January 12.

"We will continue our demonstration till the management turns up for the meeting," reiterated R Ravi, Joint Secretary of the Union.

"We have communicated to the management that we are ready to meet at a place and time that they choose to hold the meeting, which we feel must be held as early as possible," he said.

"The workers were in no mood to budge from the place till some solution was arrived at," he said.

The TKM, which is a joint venture between Japan-based Toyota group and Kirloskar group, had declared an indefinite lockout since January eight following a snap strike by the union on January six over the issue of dismissal of three workers.

Meanwhile, the CITU has decided to hold solidarity meetings to extend their support to the agitating workers.