17 October, 2011Again Maruti Suzuki workers at Manesar went on strike from 4 pm on October 7, demanding reinstatement of contract workers. The strike was triggered by the company's continued lock-out, and physical attacks by hired goons on contract workers. October 9 a shot was fired.
INDIA: On September 30 an agreement was reached between Maruti Suzuki and striking workers. The workers agreed to resume work, and the management agreed not to indulge in any acts of vengeance against the workers. The parties also agreed to settle disputes through negotiations and to respect each others' fundamental rights.
On October 3, when the contract workers reported for duty, they were turned away. Regular workers who resumed their duties were transferred. The management also stopped bus services, making it difficult for workers to reach the factory. On October 7 the management and contractors sent goons to attack contract workers who gathered at the plant gate, and union office bearers who intervened.
From October 7 around 7000 workers started a sit-in strike at three Suzuki plants, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), Suzuki Power Train and Suzuki Motor Cycles India Ltd, at Manesar, Gurgaon. They demand that the company immediately allow contract workers and 44 dismissed workers to resume their duties, and that they are assigned responsibilities at work stations where they have at least some experience.
On October 9 a contractor opened fire on workers at Suzuki Motor Cycles Limited. It was maintained officially that he fired in self-defence, but discussions with the workers showed that the intention was to harm workers. The workers snatched the weapon from the contractor and gave it to police.
October 10 the Haryana Labour Department slapped a notice on workers for "breach of settlement" in connection to the agreement that was signed on October 1 and asked them to respond within the next 48 hours the Economic Times of India reports.
The same media also reports that all major Indian national trade unions, cutting across party lines -- AITUC, CITU, HMS, INTUC, BMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU and UTUC - accused the company management of "high-handed provocative activities" and said not allowing casual workers to resume work is "an absolute act of vengeance" - a blatant breach of the October 1 agreement.
Update:
A LabourStart campaign in support of the Maruti-Suzuki workers was started on October 18.
To send protest letters to Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, go to http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1136.