The striking workers at Hero MotoCorp’s Haridwar plant called off their protest late on Saturday evening after an assurance by the District Labour Commissioner (DLC) that their suspended colleague would be reinstated.
Around 5,000 workers (including around 700 permanent workers) went on strike from Friday, protesting the suspension of a permanent worker, Amarnath.
Production came to a standstill at the plant for the second day on Saturday, where the company manufactures around 9,000 motorcycles a day. The Haridwar facility is one of Hero’s biggest plants and produces the Splendor-Plus, Splendor-Pro, Passion-Pro and Hunk.
“We have been assured by the District Labour Commissioner that he (Amarnath) will be taken back and accordingly will start work on Monday. We have also given a written statement to the DLC that if he is not allowed to work, we will strike again,” Ramesh, a worker from the plant told
He said all the workers had appointed Sandeep Sharma, a senior worker at the plant, as their leader to resolve the issue. As of now, the plant has no union.
Meanwhile, union leaders of Hero MotoCorp’s Gurgaon and Dharuhera (Haryana) plants held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the issues in Haridwar. “As of now, they have called off the strike because of the assurance from the DLC. But we have not got any statement or assurance from the company. So, the picture will be clearer on Monday,” Bhim Rao, union leader at the Gurgaon plant, said.
He said if the matter was not solved on Monday, senior union members from Gurgaon and Dharuhera would go to Haridwar and if needed, protest against the management.
Hero MotoCorp’s spokesperson said the issue was related to a disciplinary show-cause notice issued to a worker for misrepresenting facts while applying for work at the plant, in violation of the model standing orders and policies laid down by the company.
“All the protesting workers have gone back, and our despatches from the plant are going on. The company stands firm in its adherence to the well-established code of conduct and guidelines applicable to all employees for smooth operations of the plant,” the spokesperson said.