Strike at Maruti's Manesar plant enters 12th day, talks on

The strike at Maruti Suzuki India's (MSI) Manesar plant entered its 12th day on Tuesday as talks brokered by the Haryana government between the management and workers on Monday remained inconclusive.

Workers at Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd (SPIL) and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL), who have also gone on strike in support of their colleagues at MSI, are continuing their stir.

In the meantime, talks negotiated by the Haryana government between the MSI management and workers resumed on Tuesday morning.

Shiv Kumar, the General Secretary of the unrecognised Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU) said that talks have started again on Tuesday, but "nothing can be said about the outcome".

A spokesperson of MSI said the company brought in more manpower at the Manesar plant on Tuesday, taking it to 400 to augment production activities. MSI had resumed partial operations at Manesar yesterday with about 180 workers that did not join the strike.

"Production of the Swift model has started from the plant today," the spokesperson said.

The Gurgaon plant also began production on Monday, rolling out 1,700 vehicles after it was shut for two days last week due to constraints in the supply of diesel engines and transmissions from SPIL. MSI models like the M800, Omni, Eeco and Gypsy are not dependent on component supply from SPIL.

Workers of the car-maker have been on strike demanding the reinstatement of about 1,200 casual workers. They are also demanding that all 44 permanent workers who were suspended after a settlement agreement signed on October 1 to end a 33-day-long standoff must be taken back, along with those who have been fired during the ongoing protest.

Workers at SPIL and SMIPL have also gone on strike in support of colleagues at MSI's Manesar plant.

While talks between the SPIL management and workers in the presence of Haryana government officials are expected later in the day, negotiations with the striking employees at SMIPL are scheduled for Wednesday.

"We have been called for talks tomorrow. Meanwhile, our strike continues," Suzuki Motorcycle India Employees Union President Anil Kumar said.

Last week, the striking workers at the three factories vacated the plant premises after occupying it since October 7 following orders from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Haryana government.

Read more at: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/strike-at-maruti-s-manesar-plant-enters-12th-day-talks-on-183712]?cp