Gurgaon villagers extend their support to company
Six more workers, including an office-bearer of the Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union (MSWU), have been arrested by the Haryana police in connection with Wednesday’s incidents, in which a general manager of the plant was killed and over 100 sustained injuries. A total of 97 workers have been arrested so far.
Those arrested have been identified as Sohan Lal, a resident of Khukni village in Karnal; MSWU secretary Yogesh Kumar, a Jhajjar resident; Palwal-resident Surender Pal; Naveen, a resident of Jind and Satbir of Sirsa.
Lal was arrested on Saturday and sent to Bhondsi jail after a local court remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. The rest were arrested by the Special Investigation Team from different parts of Haryana on Sunday and are being interrogated for their role in the violence. They will be produced in the court on Monday.
The 91 workers, who were arrested earlier on charges of murder and rioting, are lodged in Bhondsi jail.
Meanwhile, over a 100 villages in Gurgaon and its neighbouring districts will hold a “Mahapanchayat” at “Shahid Park” in Dhana village on Monday, extending their support to the Maruti Suzuki India Limited management. “It is because of Maruti Suzuki plants that Gurgaon has witnessed so much development over the years and it has been a source of livelihood for thousands of people directly and indirectly. We cannot afford Maruti Suzuki to move elsewhere. So we have decided to hold a meeting tomorrow [Monday] to support the Maruti Suzuki management and dispel their fears,” said Om Prakash, a former “sarpanch.”
Keywords: Maruti union crisis, Haryana police, GM killing
I am not sure who is guilty as it is apparent very straightforward issue. We know what media has shown how Management has suffered the tough period. But we have no idea why situation became so worst. So partial judgement will be partial. Now for livelihood at any cost worker needs to surrender their needs & deeds as they have no other option available. So what they can do, let them do but they can not afford the plant remain close. Thanks.
The incident in Maruti Suzuki, is an eye-opener to all those who are in IR and HR in private/corporate sectors, who think that the workers are under their full control. It is a lesson that even a small incident in industrial relations could lead to very serious happenings like murder and rioting accompanied by arson. Police use to come to the scene only with the considerable delay, before which every thing is finished. Private security system is there, but they could do nothing to prevent such incidents. Though there is an Act called "The Private Security (Regulation)Act" for the functioning of a security system, it does not empower them to react when such incidents are happening, but they could only inform the police as per the provisions. This is the apt time, to think in the direction to give at least limited powers to prevent or save the persons and property, to the private security agencies? Hope the Government and media will take concerted efforts and bring amendments.
The violence at Maruti plant just underscores how workmen-management relations have been badly affected. Larger issue is contract staff employment. If employing contract staff is necessary it is then obligatory on the part of employer to ensure that the wage difference between the regular staff and contract staff remains at manageable level. Secondly, it is necessary for the contract employees to understand why companies prefer to employ contract staff on such a massive scale. Even a solitary act of violence often leads to more violence and creates an environment of intolerance and suspicion. Most workmen cannot work in such environment and it adversely impacts productivity and morale of workmen.
If the existing labour laws are forcing the employers to employ contract staff, government must engage with industry leaders and labour unions and seek viable solutions. In any case, lawlessness and violence can never be justified; they are self-destructive.
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