[Reader-list] reader-list Digest, Vol 108, Issue 12

Tarun Bhartiya tarunbhartiya at gmail.com
Sat Jul 21 12:34:04 IST 2012 

astro turfing galore

On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:28 PM, <reader-list-request at sarai.net> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Maruti: union statement (Samvit)
>    2. Re: Maruti: union statement (anupam chakravartty)
>    3. Re: Maruti: union statement (Samvit)
>    4. Re: Maruti: union statement (anupam chakravartty)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:23:47 +0530
> From: Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com>
> To: Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>
> Cc: Sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>, Friends of PUDR
>         <pudr-info at pudr.org>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Maruti: union statement
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CANZbzcNfesmd9a4JTTBbCy-fhbqxmTzSxJQ9OAHqjSnN74hD2g at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> This press release doesn't talk about what the workers did to the
> management. They killed a HR manager and brutally assaulted VPs, GMs
> and a lot of other people. I think the plant should just move out of
> Haryana.
>
> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > If they behave like animals, they deserve to be treated like animals.
> >
> > What the workers did can not be condoned, and they deserve to be
> > punished... severely.
> > ...........................
> > Partha Dasgupta
> > +919811047132
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Nagraj Adve <nagraj.adve at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> *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)
> >> _________________________________________
> >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> >> Critiques & Collaborations
> >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> >> subscribe in the subject header.
> >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > _________________________________________
> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > Critiques & Collaborations
> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:04:03 +0530
> From: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
> To: Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com>, sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Maruti: union statement
> Message-ID:
>         <CAM60O9t5RS=__
> GzoeUeRo68ZhYgxsU2O5L1m9fyk5wz7FRAaiw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> Unfortunate, but i think one needs to ask why did the strike start in the
> first place after months of no activity? was the management covertly doing
> something more sinister which lead to an outcome like this?
>
> Condemn the action of workers but have you asked about what labour laws we
> have been following?  i dont think it is absence of organized unions in
> India but most of these workers support at least 10 other people in their
> families.
>
> Have you ever wondered how a factory unit owner sees the factory workers?
> or Human Resource Department looks the people who employed in a particular
> place?
>
> Do you mourn like you do when quarry workers die of silicosis?
>
> do you mourn the loss of jobs for lakhs of textile workers in ahmedabad and
> surat in the last 30 years?
>
> What happens to the numerous labour welfare programmes run by state?
>
> Do you think workers in any factory/industrial unit should be organised?
>
> What sort of press release should be written? Just, unbiased? Then, the
> press release from the company (which does not arrive in Sarai list but
> goes straight to the edit meeting of a newspaper) should also talk about
> the conditions in which maruti or any other plant workers perform their
> tasks. the press release should give the details of number of times notices
> have been served to these companies for flouting labour laws. or do we have
> seperate ways to analyse a press note from a labour union and a corporate
> outfit?
>
> reports say that labour department and the district administration have
> been asked to maintain cordial relations between workers and the company.
> then haryana district admn is saying that scuffle between the supervisor
> and the workers is not "a labour issue". the same report by the prominent
> newspaper describes the incident between the worker and the supervisor as
> "disciplinary".
>
> have you ever wondered why we are not taught about minimum wages when are
> in elementary school?
>
> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > This press release doesn't talk about what the workers did to the
> > management. They killed a HR manager and brutally assaulted VPs, GMs
> > and a lot of other people. I think the plant should just move out of
> > Haryana.
> >
> > On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > If they behave like animals, they deserve to be treated like animals.
> > >
> > > What the workers did can not be condoned, and they deserve to be
> > > punished... severely.
> > > ...........................
> > > Partha Dasgupta
> > > +919811047132
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Nagraj Adve <nagraj.adve at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >> *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)
> > >> _________________________________________
> > >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > >> Critiques & Collaborations
> > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > >> subscribe in the subject header.
> > >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > > _________________________________________
> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> > _________________________________________
> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > Critiques & Collaborations
> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > subscribe in the subject header.
> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:12:18 +0530
> From: Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com>
> To: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
> Cc: sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Maruti: union statement
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CANZbzcPZ+DU0TiA368-iTt93fvWmT-JXbAUVBS+EPJs3+Y2KzA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> Yes but they do teach us that "violence does not justify the end" at
> elementary school. Whatever it was, violence of any sort and by anyone
> cannot justified.
>
> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:04 PM, anupam chakravartty
> <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Unfortunate, but i think one needs to ask why did the strike start in the
> > first place after months of no activity? was the management covertly
> doing
> > something more sinister which lead to an outcome like this?
> >
> > Condemn the action of workers but have you asked about what labour laws
> we
> > have been following?  i dont think it is absence of organized unions in
> > India but most of these workers support at least 10 other people in their
> > families.
> >
> > Have you ever wondered how a factory unit owner sees the factory
> workers? or
> > Human Resource Department looks the people who employed in a particular
> > place?
> >
> > Do you mourn like you do when quarry workers die of silicosis?
> >
> > do you mourn the loss of jobs for lakhs of textile workers in ahmedabad
> and
> > surat in the last 30 years?
> >
> > What happens to the numerous labour welfare programmes run by state?
> >
> > Do you think workers in any factory/industrial unit should be organised?
> >
> > What sort of press release should be written? Just, unbiased? Then, the
> > press release from the company (which does not arrive in Sarai list but
> goes
> > straight to the edit meeting of a newspaper) should also talk about the
> > conditions in which maruti or any other plant workers perform their
> tasks.
> > the press release should give the details of number of times notices have
> > been served to these companies for flouting labour laws. or do we have
> > seperate ways to analyse a press note from a labour union and a corporate
> > outfit?
> >
> > reports say that labour department and the district administration have
> been
> > asked to maintain cordial relations between workers and the company. then
> > haryana district admn is saying that scuffle between the supervisor and
> the
> > workers is not "a labour issue". the same report by the prominent
> newspaper
> > describes the incident between the worker and the supervisor as
> > "disciplinary".
> >
> > have you ever wondered why we are not taught about minimum wages when
> are in
> > elementary school?
> >
> > On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> This press release doesn't talk about what the workers did to the
> >> management. They killed a HR manager and brutally assaulted VPs, GMs
> >> and a lot of other people. I think the plant should just move out of
> >> Haryana.
> >>
> >> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com
> >
> >> wrote:
> >> > If they behave like animals, they deserve to be treated like animals.
> >> >
> >> > What the workers did can not be condoned, and they deserve to be
> >> > punished... severely.
> >> > ...........................
> >> > Partha Dasgupta
> >> > +919811047132
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Nagraj Adve <nagraj.adve at gmail.com>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> *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)
> >> >> _________________________________________
> >> >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> >> >> Critiques & Collaborations
> >> >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> >> >> subscribe in the subject header.
> >> >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> >> >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >> > _________________________________________
> >> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> >> > Critiques & Collaborations
> >> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> >> > subscribe in the subject header.
> >> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> >> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >> _________________________________________
> >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> >> Critiques & Collaborations
> >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> >> subscribe in the subject header.
> >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:27:54 +0530
> From: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
> To: Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com>, sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Maruti: union statement
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAM60O9shrRc84QhnZfB11VSOtDx-GCTZkYH+GEfSHpV5abJr1g at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> Am i justifying violence when I question labour laws, motives of companies
> and of the state?
>
> also,
>
> can we describe the incident as "whatever"? if that is the case, then are
> we doing any justice to the victim?
>
> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:12 PM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Yes but they do teach us that "violence does not justify the end" at
> > elementary school. Whatever it was, violence of any sort and by anyone
> > cannot justified.
> >
> > On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 12:04 PM, anupam chakravartty
> > <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Unfortunate, but i think one needs to ask why did the strike start in
> the
> > > first place after months of no activity? was the management covertly
> > doing
> > > something more sinister which lead to an outcome like this?
> > >
> > > Condemn the action of workers but have you asked about what labour laws
> > we
> > > have been following?  i dont think it is absence of organized unions in
> > > India but most of these workers support at least 10 other people in
> their
> > > families.
> > >
> > > Have you ever wondered how a factory unit owner sees the factory
> > workers? or
> > > Human Resource Department looks the people who employed in a particular
> > > place?
> > >
> > > Do you mourn like you do when quarry workers die of silicosis?
> > >
> > > do you mourn the loss of jobs for lakhs of textile workers in ahmedabad
> > and
> > > surat in the last 30 years?
> > >
> > > What happens to the numerous labour welfare programmes run by state?
> > >
> > > Do you think workers in any factory/industrial unit should be
> organised?
> > >
> > > What sort of press release should be written? Just, unbiased? Then, the
> > > press release from the company (which does not arrive in Sarai list but
> > goes
> > > straight to the edit meeting of a newspaper) should also talk about the
> > > conditions in which maruti or any other plant workers perform their
> > tasks.
> > > the press release should give the details of number of times notices
> have
> > > been served to these companies for flouting labour laws. or do we have
> > > seperate ways to analyse a press note from a labour union and a
> corporate
> > > outfit?
> > >
> > > reports say that labour department and the district administration have
> > been
> > > asked to maintain cordial relations between workers and the company.
> then
> > > haryana district admn is saying that scuffle between the supervisor and
> > the
> > > workers is not "a labour issue". the same report by the prominent
> > newspaper
> > > describes the incident between the worker and the supervisor as
> > > "disciplinary".
> > >
> > > have you ever wondered why we are not taught about minimum wages when
> > are in
> > > elementary school?
> > >
> > > On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> This press release doesn't talk about what the workers did to the
> > >> management. They killed a HR manager and brutally assaulted VPs, GMs
> > >> and a lot of other people. I think the plant should just move out of
> > >> Haryana.
> > >>
> > >> On Sat, Jul 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Partha Dasgupta <
> parthaekka at gmail.com
> > >
> > >> wrote:
> > >> > If they behave like animals, they deserve to be treated like
> animals.
> > >> >
> > >> > What the workers did can not be condoned, and they deserve to be
> > >> > punished... severely.
> > >> > ...........................
> > >> > Partha Dasgupta
> > >> > +919811047132
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Nagraj Adve <nagraj.adve at gmail.com
> >
> > >> > wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> >> *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)
> > >> >> _________________________________________
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> > >> > _________________________________________
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> > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
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> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
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