“We fight because of the hunger in our stomachs”
Seven years ago, Vikramjit Singh was in a crowd of about 800 workers from the Honda factory at Manesar in Haryana, when they were surrounded by the police and beaten up. “Our demands were that the management recognise our union and that all those workers suspended or terminated during the agitation be recognised. We were called to the mini-secretariat by the administration and then rounded up and beaten.”
Today, 8,000 workers gathered in the Honda factory to mark the seventh anniversary of the attack in the backdrop of the recent violence at the nearby Maruti Suzuki plant, in which one general manager was killed and several other managers were injured.
Speakers from local and national trade unions expressed their concern over the violence at Maruti, but maintained that workers had legitimate grievances that were often ignored. “We fight because of the hunger in our stomachs,” said Ashok Yadav, president of the Honda Workers Union, “Everyone should remember this.”
The Honda meeting acquired particular significance after a ‘mahapanchayat’ of local villages resolved to support companies such as Maruti and Honda and vowed to fight the unions.
On Monday, panchayat leaders, many of whom have transport and ancillary contracts with companies such as Maruti and Honda, voiced concern that big manufacturing firms might withdraw from Manesar in the wake of last week’s violence and threatened to stop the Honda workers meeting by force if need be.
This morning, the unions, panchayat and local police appeared to have arrived at a compromise in which the union didn’t take out a procession but held a worker’s meeting within the plant premises.
“We, workers, are the children of uprooted farmers,” said Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) representative Satbir, “It is deplorable that vested interests are trying to create schisms between workers and farmers.”
In an interview after the meeting, workers recalled the successes and failures of the union over the last seven years. While they said wage negotiations and settlements were satisfactory, 63 workers are still battling charges of attempted and murder and rioting that were slapped on them after the police attack.
“It has been seven years, not a single manager or policeman has been charged for attacking us,” said Vikramjit Singh. “Instead we are facing charges of murder and appearing in court every month.”
Keywords: Maruti Manesar plant, Maruti Suzuki, labour unrest, Manesar plant violence, Maruti workers strike, Maruti lockout
It is a part of Historical struggle of working class. The message is clear that capitalists or industrialists can not survive without labour. And if they cheat or do injustice, labour will fight to resist. Presently in Haryana capitalists-industrialists-rich class in collision with state have formed a clique. They are strong and powerful. There for many conspiracies are hatched; they try to control workers with police violence and gunda-bouncers. Management officials mislead industrialists and authorities. But workers in large number are heading towards unity and struggle. However there is possibility of conciliation and some kind of amicable settlement. There is no alternative with industrialists and managements except to come to negotiation table for industrial peace with sincerity. If they continue their unfair labour practices and show brutal power of state then they will face severe problems.
Isn't that ridiculous? Everyone says workers were rounded and beaten up and all that crap! Why are people not talking about what prompted police to beat them? If I correctly remember the news of that day, these workers had first tried to beat some very senior police officers who were trying to calm their agitation. And it was all fine and under control till then! How can we only blame the police?
Thank you,The Hindu,for publishing this report.You have distinguished yourself once again from the many other journals which are publicising the version of the Management and/or the govt.only.The most glaring injustice towards the workers has been keeping majority of them Casual or Contract labour for years together paying less than half fo the wages paid to regularised workers.Even the regular workers' wages are not enhanced according to the rising cost of living.They are in most cases not allowed to form their Union to represent their case to the Management.The Govt.'s Labour Department sides with the Employers only.What is the alternative before the workers to unite and fight against this grave injustice? Unfortunately,these workers have to fight not only the Employers, but also the Govt.Vandalism is not advocated or supported by any responsible Trade Union,because it goes against their own interests.
Managements make billions of profit, but do not want to pay small increases to workers. this is not fair.
it is not maruti closing, let the workers and the society boycott, such heartless managments orgnaisations.
A worker can work any where, but not a suit wearing and world traugting, executives, eating five star hotels, can not survive a day, with out their jobs.
A nice article and a wake up call for all of us, that whatever we see is not always true.There is always another side of the coin.
Haryana going West Bengal way! In future industrialists will not come to Haryana!
The trade unions are controlled by political parties and this leads to labour problems in many factories. Outside elements should not be allowed to control unions.
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