All workers unions of Maruti Suzuki have raised their voice against a March 18 verdict by a Gurgaon sessions court that sentenced 13 workers to life imprisonment and four workers to five year in jail for an arson and lynching incident in Mariuti Suzuki's Manesar plant about five years back. Fourteen other accused who have already served 4-and-a -half years jail term would be fined and released.
[File] Policemen stand inside the Maruti Suzuki factory a day after workers rioted in Manesar in 2012 | AP
"On the day of the judgment more than 30,000 workers in the Manesar-Gurgaon-Bawal-Neemrana belt observed tool down protest. Later at a public meeting in Manesar, we sought support to observe strike on April 4 and April 5. We are seeking an immediate reversal of the court's order and a fair trial," said Ram Niwas, Chairman, provisional working committee, Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU).
The MSWU along with four other labour unions have formed an umbrella organisation Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA) to carry out the protest in Gurgaon, Manesar and in Jantar Mantar, Delhi. "The judgment is an anti-working class verdict," said Ram Niwas, who added that more than 3,000 workers from the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar would join the protest.
“We all know how court cases are quoted for judgments in other cases. This case is one such that and will be quoted while hearing every case on labour unrest. It is not about the Maruti workers alone, it is a verdict against the working class of India,” said Satbir Singh, regional general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
The associations have come out with three demands — withdrawal of “false cases against the Maruti workers”, release of the 13 convicted Maruti workers, and reinstating the 117 acquitted workers.
"Failing any progress on our three demands, we will conduct week long strikes in April," said Mahavir Singh of INTUC who have joined the MWUSU to support in their protests. "Not only our members in the four Maruti plants but those working in factories of other OEM suppliers will also join this protest. It is to protect our livelihood and against the contract system of employment," said Singh.
Meanwhile, the Maruti Suzuki India Ltd management is also not relenting after the judgment. In a bid to discourage workers from attending the protests, the company had put up notice saying that any worker who join the protest will be subject to eight days pay cut.
According to the RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Maruti workers are fighting a righteous battle. "Workers have been subjugated to accept half-pay jobs on contract. They are facing every heat of the Maruti management. Right from not being allowed to unionise to being forced to sign good conduct bonds. The role of the HR/personnel manager also needs to be looked at deeply," said Vrijesh Upadhyay, general secretary, BMS.
BMS had earlier not supported the Maruti workers on their protests after the judgment. But on Saturday, Upadhyay said that the union with more than 20,000 workers in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt as members, would join the protest of Maruti workers.
"We have come in support because we realise it is easy to take disciplinary action towards workers because they do not hold any power. We urge government to take back its decision because the workers who were found guilty are not criminals, they do not hold any type of criminal records. They were working to earn their living and feed their families, not to get in to jails," said Upadhayay.
