Three factory workers test positive, panicked colleagues boycott work

Chennai

The decision to resort to tools down protest was taken after the management violated the State government guidelines on the COVID-19 precautions, including engaging only 33 per cent of workers, maintaining social distancing and periodic disinfection of workplace and toilets, said MRF Employees Union general secretary S Sathiya Murthy.

“Our workers boycotted the work from Thursday evening onwards after the management refused to test 24 workers who came in contact with a union executive committee member, who was tested positive. As of now, three workers have tested positive and about eight workers reported to have Covid-19 symptoms,” he said.

The union leader said that the production in the tyre factory commenced on May 4 with two shifts and with 25 per cent workforce a shift. “Since the company is located in the red zone, the management initially followed all the guidelines issued by the State. Later, it decided to increase the workforce to 33 per cent. But the management later insisted on resorting to three shifts operation despite our strong opposition to it. We objected to it because social distancing norms could not be followed if all the workers turned up for work in the shift. At this time, the union office-bearer tested positive,” he explained.

Pointing out that the management of two industries in the Thiruvottiyur-Ennore area arranged for testing the workers with COVID-19 symptoms, he said that MRF management asked the workers to test at their own expense. “We have taken up the issue with the labour department, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and Chennai Corporation. We will not return to work unless the safety of the workers is ensured,” he said. Efforts to contact the MFR management proved futile.