Maruti Suzuki attributed Wednesday’s violence at its Manesar plant to an orchestrated act of mob and said such acts of violence have implications beyond one company or region.
“They are negative trigger for existing companies and regions across the country as also for prospective investors and job seekers,” the company said in a statement, a day after a senior HR official was killed and about 100 others were injured in factory violence.
Maruti Suzuki, which witnessed strikes on three occasions last year, has already announced plans to set up a new plant in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore, a move which was interpreted as coming against the backdrop of violence in the region.
Maruti Suzuki said both its plants in Manesar campus were closed on Thursday and it would shortly announce its decision on the next steps with regard to resuming operations in these facilities.
Referring to the problem in the unit, it said by any account it was not an industrial relations problem over wages or working conditions.
“Rather, it is an orchestrated act of mob violence at a time when operations had been normal over the past many months,” the statement said.
On unrest
The company said violence at the plant broke out on Wednesday while negotiations were on between the management and the union for reinstatement of a worker who was “suspended for beating up a supervisor.”
“The first act of the mob was to forcibly shut the main gate and prevent managers from leaving the premises after working hours,” the statement said.
The mob targeted supervisors, managers and executives in different parts of the factory. They also ransacked offices, broke glass panes and wantonly damaged property.
Finally they set offices on fire, it added.
Death, injury and losses
The company said it would give medical attention the injured while extending whatever support possible to their families.
Regretting the loss of life of Awanish Kumar Dev, General Manager HR, the company described him as an outstanding professional and a team member, compassionate, soft—spoken and deeply—committed to cordial industrial relations.
“We are disturbed by the mob violence and arson at our Manesar plant on Wednesday evening. Several executives, managers and supervisors were brutally attacked and injured and nearly 100 of them had to be hospitalised,” Maruti said.
The company said it was still assessing the total damage to property and facilities. “What is clear is that the office facilities have been burnt beyond repair, as have the main gate, security office and the fire safety section,” it said.
The top management team visited injured colleagues in hospitals in Gurgaon. “Their experience was shocking. A few of the colleagues remained serious while for others recovering from injuries it would take a while to come out of the trauma,” the statement added.
Two Japanese nationals were also injured, one of whom was plant manager in Manesar.
Workers’ Union reacts
None of the leaders of Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union (MSWU) could be directly contacted for their reaction.
The union, however, refuted the company’s allegations and said instead of taking action against the supervisor who was involved in a scuffle with a shop floor worker “the management immediately suspended the worker concerned without any investigation.”
“When the workers along with union representatives went to meet 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,” MSWU president Ram Meher said in a statement.
He alleged that when negotiations were going on with the leaders of the union inside the office, “the management called in entry of hundreds of bouncers on its payroll to attack the workers.”
“This is completely an illegal vindictive action in the spirit of conspiracy to corner us into submission even as our demand and methods are legitimate,” Mr. Meher said.
He said workers were attacked with sharp weapons and arms by the bouncers, who were joined by “some of the managerial staff and police later” and “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, Mr. Meher added.
Stressing that the union had workers and company’s welfare in mind, he said it was keen on dialogue with the company management and Haryana government to “amicably resolve the matter and restore industrial peace in the factory”.
Keywords: Manesar plant, Maruti Suzuki, workers-supervisors clash
Q: Who won, who lost?
A: Answer: No one won; everyone lost.
Q: Who lost the most in monetary terms?
A: The Company, who else? Nearly half-a-billion and counting... seems
to me they could have done a better job of management. Millions in
losses does not make for smart management, methinks. It reeks of
stubbon manegement, the illegality or otherwise of the unions and
their methods notwithstanding. The management has not done too great
a job of protecting shareholder interests
Q: Who lost the most?
A: The Workers; only the workers...
And therein lies the story of the unrest...
There must be CCTV cameras and recordings in this company. Where is the
footage? Reality should come out
Who is the politician behind it? This will also have impact on young Indians looking to job abroad as the whole world is watching, the single story image perception today is that of Indian worker being a violent, emotional, undisciplined lot not worthy of employing. So Young Indians will be naturally deprived of opportunities. Surprising the govt is silent about this incident.
It is a shame that violence is used to settle industrial disputes by labour unions and management. At a time when the foreign investors are shy of investment in India, the murder, violence and destruction of property in one of the best joint ventures in India is regrettable. No wonder the Maruthi/Suzuki is planning to start a new plant in Maharashtra. Perhaps they may close down the Haryana plant for ever. How can a factory can work efficiently if there are three strikes in one year. The employees should be arrested for murder, violence and destruction of property; execution of the murderers; jail terms for injuring the staff; and punitive monetary punishments to individuals and the concerned labour union; dismissal of all employees involved in murder and rioting; and derecognition of the employee union. Unless these nefarious activities of the unions and politicians are stopped, India will loose more foreign investment.
At the outset, it appears that the workers are to be blamed for the riot, violence, and fire. Things have consistently been bad at the Manesar plant. So, one can not pretend that all is well and get on. Though closing and shifting the unit is one option, other options should be explored, such as even derecognising the labour unions. For this, the local Government and the labour commissioner must become proactive.
My deepest condolences to the family members of Shri.Awanish Kumar Dev, General Manager-HR(the company described him as an outstanding professional and a team member, compassionate, soft—spoken and deeply—committed to cordial industrial relations)who lost his precious life for the cause of maintaining cordial industrial relations.
Let His Soul Rest in peace.
This is the moment for the HR fraternity in our country to show solidarity, devoid of Industry & positions,through various forums and strive for justice.
We will Bend But will never break.
Let Suzuki close the plant in Haryana and come to Chennai.
Union leader's explanation about the incident is very amusing. Reading between the lines it is very clear that he is trying to distort the incident to make things in his favour. A small scuffle between a worker and a supervisor leads to the death of an administrative staff that too the HR manager, causing injuries to several ones and total devastation of the unit showing the arrogant style of functioning of the union and it's leaders.Apart from fighting for some reasonable common cuases, the purpose of the unions should be to keep a healthy relation between workers and the management. Better Maruthisuzuki should shut down the unit and relocate it to any industrial friendly state like Gujarat and teach the workers a lesson.
But the ERROR of the Management seems to be 1.Not involving the security apparatus of company,city&state lot earlier than when they did,2.Not anticipating the possibility of "lock in"of management personnel,3.Not training the management personnel in escape&avoidance method to save both their lives&company property ENDING UP more on EMOTIONAL CONFRONTATION.We in INDIA seem to specialise in "POST MORTEM"analysis instead of "ANTICIPATORY AVOIDANCE"mechanisms.
Nice of the Hindu to let us hear the other side of the story. People in power first
resort to terrorism by using Police force or goons as is now happening all over the
country especially with legitimate protests. This is the first sign of things to come for
an elite that is out of touch with the common man's legitimate grievances. Indians
are non violent as a race but when pushed into a corner they will retaliate without
fear of losing their jobs, jail term or whatever. 99% pitted against 1% and no need of
soothsayers to find out what the outcome will be.
It is time the governments,both central and state,take serious note of the situation and act before irreparable damage is done to the country's image.Otherwise,no one will be willing to invest in India and the country has to go back to the pre-reforms era,with no new private sector investment and lot of unemployment.Does India want this?
It's a shame that even after such a gory incident , the union leader has the guts to proclaim
in media that the sabotage was done by the hired bouncers.
I believe this would have a very negative impact on the region and it's development . No
company in it's senses would ever want to setup or invest in the region.
Also no amount of work pressure or other such conditions can justify these heinous acts
comitted by the workers.
All Indians have to hang their head in shame at such senseless violence.
The management needs 200% Govt support and all the workers that indulged
in violence must be treated and punished.
If the version of the Maruti company is true, then its high time they close down and shift the complete facility away from Haryana to some other state. Moreover, other foreign companies as well should exit from Haryana to elsewhere.
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