K’taka Govt backs German Bosch, arrests 150 staff

About 150 striking union members of Bosch Ltd's plant here were arrested on Monday when they tried to stage a protest in front of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence against the government's decision to prohibit their strike.

The members had gathered with an intention to stage a protest without permission, DCP Bangalore Central Sandeep Patil said.

He said all of them have been released on bail now. Around 1,000 workers had gathered.

Workers at Bosch's Adugodi plant are on an indefinite strike from 16 September, demanding resolution of issues which are long pending.

In a major blow to the workers, Karnataka government had prohibited the strike with immediate effect on Friday.

‘We were there to peacefully make our submission to the Chief Minister and make him understand that the government's decision is in favour of management...; and government under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 along with prohibiting the strike also has powers to order relief for workers under section 10 (b),’ Mico Employees Association President S Prasanna Kumar said.

‘We had no intention to stage any protest, but we were arrested and later released on bail,’ he added.

After government's decision to prohibit the strike Bosch in a statement on Friday had urged its union to call off the indefinite illegal strike, report to work and restore normalcy.