More than 25,000 workers at different Maruti plants and its vendor companies in and around Manesar here boycotted the meals served during the duty hours on Thursday. The boycott was to seek justice for the accused workers in the Maruti violence case and expressing solidarity with them on the eve of the court’s verdict in the high-profile case.
A total of 148 workers are facing charges of murder, attempt to murder, arson and vandalism, among others, in a case pertaining to violence in the Maruti company's Manesar plant on July 18, 2012 in which HR Manager Awanish Kumar Dev was killed and 90-odd executives were injured. The Additional District and Sessions Judge R.P. Goyal has fixed March 10 for pronouncement of the verdict in the case.
‘Move to crush labour’
Bellsonica Auto Components Employees' Union president Atul Kumar said that more than a 1,000 workers, including contractal workers, had boycotted the meals and drinks served in the company against the anti-workers policies of the government and seeking justice for the Maruti workers. “Around 150 workers were put behind bars without any evidence and a majority of them were not even identified by the witnesses. It is blatant framing to crush the labour movement in the region. We decided to boycott the meals in a show of unity with our brethren languishing in the jail. We expect justice from the court tomorrow [on March 10],” said Mr. Kumar. He added that the workers were prepared to go to any extent if justice was denied to the workers.
Pressure from corporates
Besides Bellsonica, Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union, Manesar; Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union, Gurugram; Maruti Suzuki Powertrain Union, Manesar, Suzuki Motorcycles Employees' Union, Kherki Dhaula and FMI Employees Union, Manesar also took part in the protest.
Bellsonica Auto Components Employees' Union general-secretary Jasbir Singh expressed apprehension that the administration could act under pressure from the big corporates to suppress workers. But we would continue to support the accused workers till they are rehabilitated, he said.
Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union general-secretary Kuldeep Jhangu said that the workers had demanded justice for the Maruti workers by boycotting the meals and even the support staff such as security guards and safai karamcharis refused the food expressing solidarity with the protesting workers. He said that the canteens at the companies bore a deserted look as the workers chose to stay away.
Gate meetings
Besides, workers' unions at several companies in the region held gate meetings on Wednesday and handed over letters to their respective managements and the local administration warning of stern steps in the wake of denial of justice to the accused workers and expressing solidarity with them.
