Chennai, Aug 27 (IANS): The Tamil Nadu labour department has issued notice to Comstar Automotive Technologies Pvt Ltd to attend a conciliation meeting to sort out the differences between the company and its 425 workers who have been on strike since Aug 11, an official said Saturday.

"We have issued summons to Comstar Automotive to attend the conciliation meeting fixed for Aug 30," a labour department official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

"The management did not come for three conciliation meetings. The last meeting was held Aug 24," Comstar Automotive Technologies Employees' Union general secretary D. Natarajan told IANS.

Comstar Automotive officials were not available for comments when contacted.

The workers demand recognition of their union and negotiations over a three-year wage accord that ended March.

The company has around 490 permanent workers and around 350 temporary workers - trainees and apprentices, Natarajan said.

According to him, production at the factory is down.

"The company has hired around 160 trainees after the permanent workers struck work Aug 11. The trainees and apprentices are being involved in actual production. As per law, they should not be directly involved in manufacturing activity. But the company is doing that," Natarajan said.

Comstar Automotive, based in Sriperumbudur district of the state, manufactures and supplies auto components like starters and alternators for cars and light commercial vehicles.

It is a Tier-I supplier for companies like Ford Motor Company, Volvo, Tata Motors and others, according to its website.