KOCHI: The conciliatory talks convened by Industries Minister A C Moideen to settle the deadlock at Synthite Industries, Kadayiruppu, failed to bear fruit as the warring CITU-backed Synthite Industries Employees’ Union (SIEU) stayed away from the meeting.
The Synthite management led by managing director Viju Jacob asked the minister to create an environment that aids its 700-odd workers to resume duties without fear, and that the transfer of 18 staffers to be made acceptable by the SIEU. The minister agreed to hold talks with the SIEU representatives and press for a solution.
Jacob told Express that the minister had listened patiently to Synthite's version. "We told him that the police were inefficient when the CITU workers ran amok at our plant, blocking a large section of workers who came to join duty," he said, adding that the minister admitted that this was a grave offence on part of the police. Jacob said the company has so far incurred a loss of Rs 75 crore due to the shutdown.
"We are losing Rs 4.5 crore per day, and the losses are mounting," he said. The Synthite management decided to shut down the unit in Kadayiruppu after the CITU-backed trade union workers disrupted the functioning of the factory over the issue of 18 of its staffers getting transferred.