Hind Mazdoor Sabha

Haryana declares ban on Maruti strike

MANESAR (Haryana):An uneasy calm prevailed in Manesar after the Haryana government declared a ban on the seven-day strike at Maruti factory, raising fears of a forceful eviction of the agitators and possible violence. The strike is assuming serious proportions by the day as central trade unions like AITUC, CITU and Hind Mazdoor Sabha join in.

And, it is headed for a full-fledged industrial stir after labour unions of over 100 auto and auto-ancillary units operating in the area set a two-day deadline to resolve the issue. Late night negotiations, though, were on.

The agitation started over the recognition of a rebel union outfit at Manesar that has refused to go with Maruti's existing Gurgaon union. It has crippled production not only at Maruti but also at many of its ancillaries. The Haryana government termed the stir as illegal, paving the way for a showdown if the agitators continue the stir and the company refuses to acknowledge their demands. The Haryana government, under the provisions of Industrial Disputes Act 1947, referred the matter to the Labour Court .

Various unions operating in the area threatened to hold similar protests across other companies. Many issued notices to their companies, urging intervention in the matter or face protests. There are about 55 autoworkers unions in the Gurgaon-Manesar area, most affiliated to the central unions. The companies whose unions served notices include Rico Auto, Omaxe, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India and Satyam Auto. The unions said formation of a separate union at Manesar was legal, something acknowledged by the Haryana government earlier. They demanded that Maruti also take back the eleven sacked employees.

Raj Kumar, president of Rico Auto Workers Union said: "We have said in the notice that if immediate steps are not taken to resolve the crisis and if force is used, we are willing to take on the fight." Omaxe Auto Workers Union president Surinder Bhati said it could take legal recourse. "We have sent copies to the labour commissioner's office too," he said.

As the situation became tense, Gurgaon joint commissioner of police Alok Mittal said additional forces had been deployed at the plant that has a daily production of 1200 cars. Loss of production for Maruti stands at around 6,650 cars or about Rs 330 crore. The protesters complained that the Maruti management had taken away many of the facilities. They alleged that the campus canteen was shut and water supply was disconnected. "Two of our workers have been admitted to hospital after falling ill as they were unable to bear the heat," a worker said. Narendra Kumar, Gurgaon district treasurer of HMS , said that even toilet facilities were inadequate.

Haryana Govt. Bans the Ongoing Strike at Maruti's Manesar Facility ...

Week-long labor unrest at Maruti’s Manesar plant , which commenced last Saturday, confronts a prohibition by the state government of Haryana as the district administration issued prohibitory notice to workers at factory. The strike was crossing excessive limits as other trade unions like AITUC, CITU and Hind Mazdoor Sabha also came in contact with the workers. This came as a threat to all the neighborhood factories and could lead to a complete halt at India’s biggest auto hub .

Yesterday after the ban was initiated at the Maruti’s factory where the government preceded additional forces to the premises rendering pressure to cease the ongoing strike, still the workers at strike proclaimed loud that the labor unrest will be continued until and unless the demand for an independent union is not fulfilled by the management.

The General Secretary of the newly-formed Maruti Suzuki Employees Union Mr. Shiv Kumar stated, “Our strike will continue as pressure tactics from the Maruti management will not dissuade us from pursuing our legal right to form independent union.”

The employees’ strike matter is also referred to the local labor court situated in Gurgaon, Haryana under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. An official from labor department of Haryana government expressed, “We have set three months for the adjudication process within legal framework of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947.”

Due to the strike at Maruti’s Manesar plant , the company has suffered a revenue loss of around Rs. 350 crore resulting into a production loss of about 5,400 units.

Maruti Suzuki Chairman Mr. RC Bhargava stated, “The government’s decision will help in sorting out the issue at the earliest. We will continue to strive for a solution but the workers have to come over for negotiations to reach some logical conclusion.

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