About 450 employees of Ford Motor India were detained on Wednesday for staging a demonstration at the factory at Maraimalainagar, about 55 km from here, demanding the reinstatement of their sacked colleagues.
The employees alleged that the company had sacked nine workers and that the agitating workers were only demanding that they be taken back. Ford India employees union office bearers told agencies that production has not been affected.
Those detained are currently lodged in marriage halls in neighbouring Singaperumal Kovil and Maraimalai Nagar respectively, local police officials said.
Union official said that they hoped negotiations between the management and workers would soon take place on the reinstatement issue.
Trouble began at the factory yesterday after some employees resorted to a sit-in-strike, demanding reinstatement of the sacked employees.
Ford India confirmed that services of nine employees had been 'terminated' for violating the company's code of integrity.
"Their employment was terminated after due enquiry process," a company statement said. However, it clarified that the plant continues to operate its 'normal production schedule'.
Ford India currently has a manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar manufacturing several models, including the latest Global Fiesta, premium hatchback 'Figo' and premium SUV 'Endeavour'.
Besides Chennai, Ford India has ventured into the Western region with investments of USD 1 billion, to set up a similar manufacturing plant at Sanand in Gujarat. The company has lined up eight new model launches by mid 2020.