Maruti-Suzuki union leaders arrested after meeting with employer

INDIA: Everything happened at the negotiation hall under the eyes of the Maruti-Suzuki management and representatives of the management-favoured union MUKU. The Haryana Labour Minister and labour Commissioner had left the hall, after which police entered and arrested leaders of the Maruti Suzuki Employees’ Union (MSEU).

Since the commencement of the dispute on August 29 the IMF regional office in India has closely coordinated with the workers, national centers and senior leaders and made efforts to bridge the gap. The workers are willing to make a settlement. The Maruti-Suzuki management on the other hand resorted to this extreme step. The arrest of the MSEU officers Sonu Gujjar, President, Shiv kumar, General Secretary and Ravinder Kumar will further worsen the situation and make rapprochement more difficult. Production at the Manesar Suzuki plant is at a standstill, while the local management continues to recruit replacement workers.

The Indian IMF affiliate SMEFI, Steel, Metal & Engineering Workers' Federation of India, is arranging bail of the arrested MSEU leaders.

Prior to the latest events, negotiations were being held daily in the office of the labour minister at the instance of SMEFI and the union federation HMS. Maruti-Suzuki workers and representatives of MUKU and SMEFI participated in the negotiations.

They centered around disciplinary proceedings and enforcement of a good conduct bond, that prohibits strike action and deprives workers of their basic rights according to ILO conventions. So far 62 workers face disciplinary proceedings; 29 workers have been placed under suspension, 15 workers have been dismissed, and 18 trainees' employment have been terminated.

The management previously announced its willingness to take 18 trainees back and to convert dismissals into suspensions, and to revoke the suspensions of a few workmen.

The union is demanding that all workers be reinstated pending disciplinary proceedings and that the good conduct bonds are withdrawn. The representatives of the Maruti-Suzuki union would sign a good conduct undertaking on behalf of the workers, while the management should counter sign that they will not indulge in unfair labour practices. Sep 19, 2011 – Rainer Santi