8 January, 2008Responding to the spread of contract work requires the strengthening of metalworking union organizing and unity among workers.
More than twenty union leaders representing workers from across the Indian automobile sector gathered in Chennai for a three-day IMF workshop on union building and the challenges of precarious work. Growing output of cars and commercial vehicle is on a path to make India the fifth leading producer by the early part of the next decade, according to industry projections presented to participants. Motor vehicle manufacturers are expanding assembly and ancillary supplier operations in several key states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Harayana, Delhi, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, presenting new challenges for organizing and unifying workers across the sector.
The union participants, representing workers from Indian and foreign-based assembler and supplier operations highlighted the widespread and growing use of contract workers. In many cases, plant representatives reported that almost half or more of the work force are in precarious jobs, with these workers receiving much lower compensation and social benefits, unequal or inadequate access to facilities, and worse conditions of work. Company strategies making high use of contract workers were identified as arising from management's drive for profits and flexibility while avoiding responsibility for welfare and job security of workers and attempting to weaken unions. Participants focused on the need to organize and unify workers, convert contract to permanent jobs, and effectively use collective bargaining and the enforcement of existing legal protections to ensure equal treatment.
Delegates to IMF workshop unanimously adopted a resolution protesting the ongoing threat by Bajaj Auto Ltd. to close the plant in Akurdi and the company's mistreatment of workers and the community in Pune. They also condemned the continuing violations of worker and trade union rights at Hyundai Motor India, which include suspensions, dismissals and illegal and unjustified transfers of union leaders, and the harassment and intimidation of union members and supporters.
The union participants, representing workers from Indian and foreign-based assembler and supplier operations highlighted the widespread and growing use of contract workers. In many cases, plant representatives reported that almost half or more of the work force are in precarious jobs, with these workers receiving much lower compensation and social benefits, unequal or inadequate access to facilities, and worse conditions of work. Company strategies making high use of contract workers were identified as arising from management's drive for profits and flexibility while avoiding responsibility for welfare and job security of workers and attempting to weaken unions. Participants focused on the need to organize and unify workers, convert contract to permanent jobs, and effectively use collective bargaining and the enforcement of existing legal protections to ensure equal treatment.
Delegates to IMF workshop unanimously adopted a resolution protesting the ongoing threat by Bajaj Auto Ltd. to close the plant in Akurdi and the company's mistreatment of workers and the community in Pune. They also condemned the continuing violations of worker and trade union rights at Hyundai Motor India, which include suspensions, dismissals and illegal and unjustified transfers of union leaders, and the harassment and intimidation of union members and supporters.