Manesar violence: 30 trade unions seek CBI probe

Amid concern on the deteriorating worker-management relations that has rocked industries in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt in recent times, about 30 trade unions in the region on Tuesday petitioned the state administration for a Central Bureau of Investigation enquiry into the violence at Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar unit on July 18.

They also urged resumption of work at the factory be hastened.

According to sources in the know, nearly 25,000 workers from Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Suzuki Powertrain India, Gurgaon-based Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union, Suzuki Motorcycle India, Sona Koyo Steering Systems, etc, filed a memorandum before Deputy Commissioner P C Meena.

. . .

"We want the state administration to release all innocent workers arrested in connection with the incident.

"We also want the state government to intervene, so that the company resumes operations at Manesar at the earliest," said Kuldeep Jhangu, general secretary, Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union.

 He added only a high-level CBI probe into the incident could reveal the reasons behind the violence at the Manesar plant, which resulted in the death of a senior management executive and left scores of company officials injured.

So far, the Haryana Police has arrested 114 workers in connection with the incident.

"The workers held a joint convention three days ago, in which it was decided innocent employees should not be harassed needlessly.

. . .

"The unions want the lock-out at Maruti's Manesar unit be lifted," said D L Sachdeva, national secretary, All India Trade Union Congress.

The demands from the unions come at a time when Maruti Suzuki India said it expected more arrests in connection with the 'violence and arson' at Manesar.

The company said it 'continues to be concerned about the safety and security of its people' and hence, 'is not in a position to take a decision on resuming operations at the Manesar plant.'

With Maruti Suzuki India announcing an indefinite lock-out at the plant, about 3,000 workers have been out of work since July 18.

. . .

The disruption in production has led to daily revenue losses of about Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million) for the company.
Losses for vendors stand at Rs 55 crore (Rs 550 million) a day.

The unions have also demanded the deputy commissioner declare the lock-out at Gurgaon-based medical devices maker Eastern Medikit 'illegal'.

Over 2,000 workers at the company have alleged the promoter had locked the factory since May 18, and salaries for three months and deductions towards provident fund and Income Tax have not been remitted to employees.