[Reader-list] Inside account of Honda conflict

[Jeebesh Bagchi]

dear friends,

Here is an account of what was happening inside the Honda factory in 
Manesar. This is a first person account printed in the monthly hindi 
newspaper `Faridabad Majdoor Samachar` (August, 2005/  New Series No 206).

Earlier i had posted (`after honda`) a text that puts into question 
various forms of leadership practices based on representation and 
delegation. In this account it is very clear that through a sustained 
process of lateral conversation and collective acts the workers had kept 
up some pressure within the work-place. But, the ensuing events have 
taken the process out of their hands and have landed them with an 
earlier rejected agreement.

Since in our intellectual lifes very few processes are looked at 
carefully after an `event`, we have very little understanding of issues 
at stake and also how processes unfolds and to whose benefits.

all the best
Jeebesh
-------------------------
Mazdoor Samachar, August 2005, New Series Number 206

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter Workers: Plot 1, Sector 3, Manesar. The 
biggest problem in the factory located in Gurgaon is – work, work, work 
and work. The factory was set up four years ago and one thing that has 
been on the rise is production demand and the burden of work. The 
'saahabs' (managers) keep the pressure of work up, and if anyone is 
questioned, then you are told - “You don't have to come on your duty 
tomorrow. This is how things have to be done. If you can't, then you can 
leave.”

In this way, one line has been made to produce 2000 scooters in one day, 
by work being done in two shifts. Production of motorcycles has reached 
750 in one shift – motorcycle production work is an year and a half old. 
One scooter has to be produced in 25-26 seconds. In this way, production 
of 1000 scooters has been fixed for one shift. But if, for some reason, 
this does not happen, then the B-shift has to make up to meet the 2000 
figure. If, in order to make this extra work possible, production is 
halted for half an hour during the second shift and then continued, then 
no overtime is given. If production is still not completed then workers 
are forced to put in overtime. B-shift ends at 11:15 PM, and usually one 
must work till 1-1:30 AM. On and off, one has to stay back till 5:30 AM 
to finish the production of 2000 scooters.

Parts are made on CNC machines, where one worker has to operate two 
machines at a time. Some parts have to be made in 15 seconds, others in 
30, others in 50 seconds, and some heavy parts in up to 2 minutes 10 
seconds. In all this time, two machines have to be operated together. 
There are two shifts on the line, but three shifts for production of 
parts. Working one shift is so tiring that overtime is impossible, but 
has to be done or you will be shown the way out of the gate.

Around 90-100 hours of overtime have to be put in every month. The 
company compensates for overtime with twice the payment, but we workers 
are very opposed to putting in overtime. Considering the speed at which 
work is being done, no one will be able to work beyond the age of 35-40 
years.

At first glance, at a superficial level, everything is good in the Honda 
Factory: Any worker (even the one who has come in through a contractor) 
is given two sets of uniform, one pair of shoes and a cap on the very 
day he joins. There are 25 buses which transport workers from the home 
to the factory and back, and if there are few workers then even an 
Indica or Qualis. There are two canteens and a meal – roti, rice, two 
vegetables, curd, salad, something sweet – is available for Rs. 6. Every 
worker is given a coupon of Rs. 200 for tea and snacks every month. It 
is clean. There is a doctor in the factory at all times, an ambulance, 
Medi-claim. Permanent workers, trainees and apprentices are all given 
their payment on the first of every month, and those who work through a 
contractor are paid through him by the 7th of every month. Trainees and 
apprentices are brought from far, and they are provided for 
accommodation for the entire month. Some of the ITI workers brought in 
by the contractor work for 6-7-8 month and are thereafter sometimes 
retained as trainees. Trainees are permanently employed once they finish 
their period of training (one to two years).

Paucity of permanent employment opportunities and the desire for 
permanent employment post trainee-ship compelled us to bear anything. 
But after the incident in which a worker was kicked, we increased 
dialogue amongst ourselves.

Late year, in October, at 11:15 PM in the weld-shop, during B-shift, one 
manager kicked a worker. The next day, during A-shift, workers stopped 
work at 9:00 AM, to protest against this. When the manager who had 
kicked the worker apologised, work was resumed – this was at 2:00 PM. 
B-shift workers also stopped work. The manager apologised again and work 
resumed at 7:30 PM. If work stops in a factory for one day, it amounts 
to a loss of Rs. 8 crore.

Quarrels increased in the factory. This year, on 6th February, bonds 
were asked to be signed, and the management was very forceful about 
this. All the workers left their place of work and assembled in the 
canteen. No one ate food. No one left when the shift ended. C-shift 
workers also came and sat in the canteen. Next morning, A-shift workers 
made there way to the canteen as well, instead of going to work. Workers 
from all three shifts – 1200 permanent, 1600 trainee, 1000 employed 
through a contractor and 400 apprentices – were congregated in the 
canteen. No one ate or drank any tea. The company called police in the 
factory. The D.C. also reached the factory. There was no leader among us 
– the company asked for 5 workers from each department to talk with. An 
agreement was reached by 5-6 in the evening – there would be no 
suspensions, the bonds which had been signed were returned (workers 
burned them) and the production would be completed.

Work resumed on the morning of 8th February, after having been stalled 
for one and a half days. Pay was not deducted for the period for 
permanent employees and trainees, but workers employed through the 
contractor lost a day and a half of pay.

In April, the company gave its annual increment to the workers:  
Permanent employees got a raise of Rs. 2800-3500. Trainees got a raise 
of Rs. 600 (even through the raise in April 2004 was Rs. 750). This 
meant permanent employees were now earning Rs. 8500-10,000 per month; 
and trainees, Rs. 5600. One thousand workers employed through K.C. 
Enterprises did not get any increment. Their salary remained at Rs. 
2,800. They work on production and operate the CNC machines.

Apprentices get Rs. 900 from the government, and Rs. 700 from Honda 
Company. Like all companies, apprentices are put to production from the 
first day itself, instead of being trained first. They work all three 
shifts. Most apprentices are brought in from far off places and Rs. 
1,600 do not suffice for them. They get overtime through a calculation 
on their 1,600, not what other workers would get. Once a machine got 
spoilt because of an apprentice, because of which the line didn't work 
the entire day. The apprentice was fired.

Things were stable for a few days. Then, a fork lifter got spoiled and a 
permanent employee was suspended. Ten days after this, workers refused 
to eat. The work was heavy, and so workers would drink tea. Trainees, 
apprentices and workers employed through contractors were involved in 
this. Despite a lot of pressure, workers employed through the contractor 
did not eat at the factory. When this continued for a month, the factory 
gave the worker back his work.

Talk about relief through a union began. Workers would meet at the 
Devilal Park in Gurgaon at intervals of 15-20 days. Cronies among us 
would report the proceedings to the company. Some steps to align with 
registered and bigger unions were taken. The Honda company began to 
increasingly suspend workers over small matters. It began with workers 
employed through contractors, and by 26th June, 500 of the 1000 workers 
employed through contractors were fired. On 2nd June, to protest against 
this, B-shift workers left their place of work and went to the 
administrative building and shouted slogans. Production had stopped for 
half an hour and was compensated for later. The company fired four 
permanent employees the following day and suspended 25. In protest, 
meals were refused and overtime was stopped. Production of scooters fell 
from 1000 to 450-500.

On 22nd June, the company put up a notice that trainees whose training 
period was over would be put to test on 24th June, a Sunday. Those who 
passed the test and if considered necessary would be employed 
permanently. This, when till now the company had been employing trainees 
and there had been no test preceding this. No one appeared for the test 
on Sunday. By this time the number of suspended workers had increased to 
50. On 27th June, when we reached for work, the company asked us to sign 
certain conditions at the gate. When we refused, the company refused to 
let us enter the factory. Over 300 staff, 40-50 permanent employees and 
workers hired through contractors on 27th June itself, entered the 
factory. Work continued – there were around 2000 people in the factory. 
Police was stationed at the gate. Four thousand workers were outside the 
gate.

The administration was petitioned through the union. A procession. Even 
came to the Parliament during the 11th July session. But nothing 
changed. It was in this context that there was a clash with the police 
on 25th July and we were beaten with sticks.

Following this, claims and announcements on TV, in newspapers and by 
political leaders made it look like our problems would be solved. But on 
the instruction of the Central Government, the compromise struck under 
the aegis of the Chief Minister of Haryana has pushed us into hell. 
According to this, workers returned the factories on 1st August, and are 
filled with anger. Everyone is annoyed: permanent workers are saying 
that if they had to sign the conditions of Honda company afterall, then 
what was the point of doing all that they did. The 35 trainees who had 
finished their training are still out of work. The 500 out of 1000 
workers employed through the contractor, who were fired on 26th June 
have still not been hired back. Those who had been hired through 
contractors on 27th will remain. The company will not pay us for the 
period from 27th June to 31st July. Through the deal that has been 
struck, the workers have been divided.

Postal Address:
Mazdoor Library,
Autopin Jhuggi,
NIT, Faridabad - 121001

(text translated by Shveta <shveta at sarai.net>)