After hours of intense discussions Saturday, talks between the striking workers and the Hyundai management ended in a stalemate.

Union leaders say the workers' committee, set up by the management, does not represent the employees and that the agreement was against a directive of the labour commissioner.

'The management has violated the directive given by the labour commissioner that no wage agreement should be entered into with the worker's committee,' Thangapandian said.

Added union president A. Edison Periera: 'Our two major demands are taking back around 80 dismissed workers and granting recognition to our union.'