Udupi, (The Hindu): The fate of about 500 workers, including 326 permanent workers, hangs in balance after a rotor blade manufacturing unit of Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SEL) located in the Suzlon Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Padubidri in Udupi district suspended its operations and announced a lockout in the early hours of Tuesday.

Workers who came to work were greeted with the lockout notice by the plant head. It read: “In accordance with provisions of Sub Section 2 of Section 22 of Industrial Disputes Act 1947, we hereby give notice to all concerned that it is our intention to effect lockout for all workers whose names are mentioned in Annexure 2 to this notice with effect from November 29, 2017, for the reasons explained in Annexure 1. In the meanwhile, the management has decided to suspend its operations from today.” The notice also stated that over the last seven months, workers had indulged in “severe go-slow tactics resulting in production loss to the extent of more than 60 %.” In an earlier agreement with the Suzlon Employees Union, it was agreed that the workers would produce a minimum of 14 sets of blades per month from two production lines and 28 sets of blades per month from four production lines. During April-October 2017, the targeted production was 214 blade sets but only 76 blade sets were produced.

The workers began an indefinite dharna in front of the entrance of Suzlon SEZ.

Meanwhile, the rotor blade unit obtained an injunction order from court prohibiting any protest in a one-kilometre radius from its premises.