Guj Labour Dept Declares Strike at Tata Nano Plant as Illegal

Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, (left) and the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi rolling out the first Tata Nano in Sanand, near Ahmedabad. (Photo: AP)

With the workers strike at Tata Nano plant at Sanand entering the 10th day on Thursday, the Gujarat labour department declared it as illegal and referred the matter to the industrial tribunal here for resolution.

We issued the order declaring the strike illegal under the Prohibition of Industrial Disputes Act to both management and the union leader. If the workers continue the strike, we can issue show-cause notice and lodge a criminal case against them.

<b> M S Patel, Assistant labour commissioner</b>

A Tata Motors official said that with the prohibitory order in place, the company hoped that normalcy will return.

The labour department has referred the matter to the industrial tribunal to decide if suspension of 28 workers was justified and if the striking workers should be paid wages. Some 420 workers at the plant went on strike on February 23 demanding reinstatement of suspended workers.

The company had first suspended two workers for indiscipline, and 26 others later when the protesting workers allegedly damaged new vehicles inside the plant.