Dunlop India plans plant reopenings

NEW DELHI, India (Jan. 7) — Dunlop India Ltd. will attempt to reopen its two plants — idled for the past two years because of financial and labor problems — in February, but the company still faces opposition from the labor union representing its workers. Following a settlement between company management and labor unions on Jan. 6, Dunlop India said it would reopen plants at Sahajunj/West Bengal and Ambattur/Tamil on Feb. 7, and invest $5 million immediately to restart operations, according to President Muralidhar Shukla. Dunlop India has accumulated losses of $25 million and loan liabilities of $16.3 million during the trouled period, and was declared bankrupt in June 1998.