Around 20,000 workers at different Maruti plants and its vendor companies in and around Manesar went on a tool down strike for an hour on Saturday night in protest against the sentencing of the convicted workers in the Maruti violence case.
Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union general-secretary Kuldeep Jhangu said that there was strong resentment among the workers over the conviction and sentencing of the workers in the Maruti violence case. He added that, therefore, it was decided by the six workers' unions to put tools down for an hour from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. “An hour-long strike would impact the production of 400-500 vehicles,” said Mr. Jhangu.
‘Conviction a conspiracy’
Besides Gurugram's Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union, Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union, Manesar; Maruti Suzuki Powertrain Union, Manesar; Suzuki Motorcycles Employees' Union, Kherki Dhaula; FMI Employees Union, Manesar and Bellsonica Auto Components Employees' Union, Manesar also took part in the protest.
“The conviction of the accused workers is a conspiracy of the government to suppress the workers’ movement in the industrial belt in this region. We would continue our fight for justice and appeal in the higher court in this connection,” said Mr. Jhangu.
The workers of the six unions had earlier boycotted the meals served at the companies' premises on the eve of pronouncement of judgment on March 10.
‘Death used as alibi’
Former president of Haryana Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Inderjit Singh, said that the Maruti management had used the unfortunate death of an officer as an alibi to totally suppress the right to form a trade union and that is why about 150 active workers were jailed though most of them were found not guilty.
