'Nokia Siemens employees go on indefinite strike at Chennai plant'

CHENNAI: The spokesperson of an employee association of Nokia Siemens Networks India has said its employees at the Oragadam factory, near Chennai, have gone on an indefinite strike since Monday afternoon, bringing production to a standstill, to protest the recent sacking of some 50 employees. The company, however, has indicated that the production facility is running normally.

E Muthukumar, president, Nokia Siemens Networks India Employees Association, said, “On April 4, the company sacked 52 employees without any prior notice and proper reasons. They also initiated inquiry against these employees.” He said that about 260 permanent employees went on an indefinite strike after the company failed to reinstate the sacked employees.

In an emailed statement, Satendra Singh, the company’s head of manufacturing operations, India, said, “The production operations at Oragadam facility are running normally. We have offered our colleagues an opportunity to have an open dialogue to understand the employees’ concerns in a manner that is mutually conducive and rational in approach. We continue to treat all our employees with utmost respect and appreciation as we have in the past.”

The Nokia Siemens Chennai plant manufactures components for cell phone towers. Over 50 components are made here and exported to the US, Europe and Asia.