Maruti strike: The real battle in Manesar is about relevance of trade unions

Manesar, Haryana: Eyes tired from lack of sleep, Amarjit, a permanent worker at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant in Haryana, explains from across barbed wire and bars of a gate why he and 1800 of his co-workers (1500 according to the management) have refused to leave the plant since they struck work on Friday afternoon (7 October). “This is the fifth day (the strike enters its seventh day today) that we’ve spent inside. According to the agreement with the management on 1 October, it was understood that all employees would be allowed to resume work. However, only permanent employees were allowed to enter the plant and our brothers (referring to the 1200 contract workers on are a dharna outside the premises) were not allowed.” The stand-off between the workers of Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant is only the latest in what has been an extremely acrimonious last couple of months. This is third strike since June. The strikes and stoppage of production have hit the company hard. “The problems we have had since June has cost us 51,000 cars which translates to loss of turnover worth Rs 1500 crore,” said a company official speaking to Firstpost. The Haryana government on Tuesday issued a breach of settlement notice to the Maruti Suzuki workers. The condition of striking workers inside the plant remains unknown as no media (or other workers) are allowed inside by the security personnel. A temporary kitchen has come up outside the plant to supply food to workers inside. Some of the workers who have fallen ill were seen giving samples for blood test across the fenced wall. [caption id=“attachment_106498” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Striking Maruti Suzuki workers at Manesar Plant. Naresh Sharma”] [/caption] However, “We are relaxed,” insisted Amarjit. “The management has not spoken to us. The workers of Suzuki Powertrain (that belongs the parent Suzuki company and has two plants in Manesar) are also on strike in our support.” Loudspeakers inside the premises could be heard making a recorded announcement calling for an immediate end to the strike, only to be greeted by boos and songs of protest by the workers inside and outside. Labour officer of the Haryana government, Ajay Pal, who was at Manesar’s Suzuki Powertrain Casting plant on Tuesday evening to mediate talks with workers who’ve also been on strike since 7 October in solidarity with Maruti Suzuki workers, maintained that the “process of conciliation is on.” The second and longest strike, since troubles first started in June, lasting 33 days ended after a hard-fought negotiation that led to the 1 October agreement, which both parties are now accusing the other of breaching. Sunil Dutt, one of the 44 permanent workers of the Maruti Suzuki plant whose employment has been terminated explains: “The agreement was that barring the 44 workers who had been suspended, all workers would be allowed to resume work. But the management didn’t allow 1200 contract workers to resume work. Only 1800, which includes permanent employees, were taken back. This is a violation. Our demands now are that the management take back the 44 previously suspended workers and also the 25 who were suspended on 8 October. The false cases of inciting strikes that have been lodged against them be taken back.” The company official counters. “The number of permanent employees at the plant is 950. Barring the 44 who were suspended, that is 906 employees were admitted into the plant. The 1200 workers being referred to are contract workers and the agreement has nothing to do with them. But it was explicitly communicated at the time of the agreement that the contract workers would be taken back over the next couple of weeks. There was no confusion on this.” The company official went on to suggest that the latest crisis was a ploy by the 44 suspended workers. “Perhaps workers are using the contract workers as a ploy to force the management to take the 44 back. The contract workers is a complete non-issue.” According to company official, about 2000 were inside the plant the Friday afternoon when the strike started. “500 workers who didn’t want to take part in the strike were then rescued with the help police. Currently there are about 1500 people inside.” The heart of the conflict is the issue of establishing a second workers union to represent the Maruti’s Manesar plant workers. Maruti has another plant at Gurgaon. “In December, the management said that there would be union elections. When the workers who wanted to contest were discouraged by the management and mentally tortured and harassed. Until June, no elections happened. The management does not want to hold elections here. “We then decided that we should have another union that will represent the welfare of Manesar plant workers. On 3 June, we applied for the registration of the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union at Chandigarh,” said Sunil. [fpgallery id=271] Continues on next page.. The next day, says Sunil, the management got signatures from about 600 employees that stated that they were happy with the existing Maruti Udyog Kaamgaar Union. “When we protested, false cases were lodged against us. The cases were not taken back, and we were forced to go on strike. It lasted 13 days.” The company official states that ‘union issue’ had been resolved in June. “In the last four months, there has been no mention of this demand. When it was first raised, the management’s response was this: when there are multiple unions, there will be competitive union politics. We already have a recognised union and the workers have prospered. This union that was proposed by the workers, included three non-employee members. When there are non-employees, like say a politician, it will change the agenda and bring harm to the company.” The company official further added that it was proposed that the structure of the existing union be altered to represent the workers of the Manesar plant. “We will change structure of the current union, so that there will be distinct representation for the Manesar workers.” The second strike that began on 29 August, says Sunil was a result of the lock-out by the company. “Between June and August, pressure on the workers to give up union demand remained. And on 29th August, without notice, the company was sealed and there was lock-out.” The company, however, denies that there was a lock-out. Explaining the circumstances of halting production, the company official said, “On 29 August, during quality check we found that some of the workers had induced dents on the cars. And so we decided to halt production right away. This was not a lock out. The factory was open and production continued. The employees were asked to sign a ‘good conduct bond’ and enter the plant. About 170 workers signed the bond and. It was not a lock out.” The month-long protest ensued. After heavy negotiations, in which the Haryana government was involved, an agreement was signed between the management and the workers 1 October. But with sides crying foul, a new crisis has emerged with the 1500 workers refusing to leave the plant since Friday. On Tuesday (10 October), the leaders of the Maruti Suzuki workers called a meeting of unions of all plants in Manesar. Maruti Suzuki workers leader Shiv Kumar said, “On Thursday (13 October), all unions (there are 50-60) in Manesar have been called to show solidarity with the cause of Maruti workers by showing up with their workers at 3 pm at the Maruti Suzuki plant gate.” When asked about what the demands were, he said, “We want a second round of negotiation so that the management takes our demands more seriously. In addition to the 1200 contract workers, the 44 suspended workers should be taken back and charges against them dismissed. And we want a workers union for the Manesar plant.” Responding to the spread of the strike to other plants, the company official said, “This has been worrying us for a while. Over the last five years trade unions have tried to build a base in the Manesar area. This obviously vitiates the investment climate. It is not good for workers or the management or the suppliers. It is in the interest of everyone that the environment remains clean.” With the notice being issued to the workers by the Haryana government, it now remains to be seen how the workers will respond.