[Reader-list] Maruti: union statement

[Nagraj Adve]

*PRESS STATEMENT*

*19TH July 2012*

* *



The Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU) is anguished at the recent
developments in Maruti Suzuki plant, IMT Manesar where the management has
resorted to anti-worker and anti-Union activities in a pre-planned manner
leading to violence and the closure of the factory yesterday.



We have had a long tough struggle with the strong unity of our permanent
and contract workers to establish and register our Union last year, and had
recently as of April 2012 submitted our Charter of Demands to the
management of Maruti Suzuki, and the process of negotiation for wages and
other demands was underway. However the management has done its utmost to
derail the process since long and is trying to break the back of the spirit
of unity of the workers and the legitimacy of the Union.



It is due to this, and continuing with this vindictive attitude and in a
pre-planned manner, yesterday, the afternoon of 18thJuly, a supervisor in
the shop floor abused and made casteist comments against a dalit worker of
the permanent category, which was legitimately protested by the worker.
Instead of taking action against the said supervisor, the management
immediately suspended the worker concerned without any investigation as was
demanded by the workers. When the workers along with Union representatives
went to meet the HR to demand against the supervisor and revoke the unjust
suspension of the worker, the HR officials flatly refused to hear our
arguments, and it was in no mood to resolve the issue amicably.



When the negotiation was going on with the leaders of the Union inside the
office, the management called in the entry of hundreds of bouncers on its
payroll from outside the plant to attack the workers, and blocked the exit.
This is completely an illegal vindictive action in the spirit of conspiracy
to corner us into submission even as our demands and methods are legitimate
and peaceful. The exit gates were closed by the security on behest of the
management and the bouncers brutally attacked the workers with sharp
weapons and arms. They, joined by some of the managerial staff and police
later, beat up a number of workers who have had to be hospitalised with
serious injuries. The bouncers, who are anti-social elements on hire, also
destroyed company property and set fire to a portion of the factory. The
gates were later opened to oust the workers and enforce a lockout by the
company.



We have the workers and the company’s welfare in mind and have worked
towards it after the resolution of the dispute last year, and to blame the
current violence on us is unjust, which should be properly investigated. We
are still keen to dialogue with the company and want to sit with the
company management and the government labour department to amicably resolve
the matter and restore industrial peace in the factory.





Ram Meher

President, Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU)