The Haryana government on Friday banned the strike by 2,000-odd workers at Maruti Suzuki?s Manesar facility once it saw through the game plan to bring in professional politicians into the country?s biggest auto hub.
Other auto firms in the Manesar area include Hero Honda and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), besides a clutch of ancillary units. Maruti?s strike, which entered its seventh day on Friday, was in danger of spreading to other auto units. On Wednesday, workers from other units also sat in front of the Maruti?s Manesar facility in solidarity with the striking workers.
A top Haryana government official confirmed to FE that the striking employees appeared to be looking at more than just better working standards for themselves. A group of employees who went on strike filed papers to register their union with the labour department in Chandigarh. It then transpired that the proposed union, Maruti Suzuki Employee Union, wanted to have the freedom to appoint a third of its 11 office bearers from outside. Theoretically, this meant that the Maruti Suzuki Employee Union could appoint a professional politician as its head.
?This demand is unacceptable since it would allow outsiders from other unions to come and form a part of the core committee, who literally have nothing to lose,? a top Haryana government official, confirming the development, told FE. At present, Indian auto firms do not allow unions to nominate members from outside, fearing that it could cripple production.
While banning the strike the state government referred it to the local court under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Shiv Charan Lal, minister of state for labour and employment in the Haryana government, said in a statement.
The ban on the strike strengthens Maruti management?s powers to take strict disciplinary action against the striking workers. According to an expert in labour laws, with the strike declared illegal and banned, the striking employees lose their rights as workers. This gives the management much greater power to take action, including dismissal of employees if they do not join work.
Further, now the Maruti management can cut eight days? salary for every day of a strike. So if the agitation lasts for eight days, the management can cut salaries for 64 days. The Maruti management had earlier announced ?no work, no pay? on the day the strike began. The expert said that in the past, when strikes were declared illegal, it had broken the back of striking employees. In many cases, the workers then turned against the union, demanding that the union leaders compensate them for the loss in wages. ?
The workers have been protesting for the immediate recognition of the Maruti Suzuki Employee Union at Manesar.
Meanwhile, to end the six-day-long labour strike that has already cost the company a total production loss of R240 crore, the striking workers agreed to hold a three-way meeting along with the management of the company and Haryana?s labour commissioner?s department on Saturday.
The decision was taken on Friday afternoon following an hour-long meeting between 10 workers and the labour commissioner, sources said.
A Maruti Suzuki spokesperson said that the company has made every effort possible to engage with the agitating workers.