Idled Dunlop India Workers Declare Hunger Strike

Operations at Dunlop India’s Sahagunj facility have remained idle since last November, and in an attempt to coerce company management to resume production some fifty employees and their families commenced a hunger strike on July 16.

“Fifty workers will continue the relay hunger strike till July 20. From July 22 the workers, accompanied by their family members, will go on a fast unto death. Our demand is that the plant has to be opened and production started immediately,” spokesperson Bidyut Raut said.

While the Business Standard newspaper reports allegations from Sahagunj workers that the Ruia Group never commenced production at the site after taking over the company in 2006, information previously given to Tyres & Accessories indicates the facility has operated since late 2006, albeit with shutdown periods and other technical difficulties.

“We also want production to resume at Sahagunj, but cannot do so without the power supply being restored by the West Bengal State Electricity Board,” reported a Dunlop India spokesperson. The company owes the power supplier approximately Rs 150 million (£1.88 million). The dispute between Dunlop India management and the electricity company is currently being dealt with in the Calcutta High Court.

According to the Dunlop India spokesperson, 250 maintenance workers have been active at the Sahagunj site, and the company could resume tyre production with an initial production target of 40 tonnes per day within seven days of the electricity supply being reconnected.