Worker unions from Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Suzuki Powertrain have said that they may all go on protest strikes if Maruti Suzuki resorts to mass-level suspensions at its Manesar plant.

A joint meeting was held at the bus parking area of Honda Motorcycle’s Manesar plant on Wednesday as a solidarity move for colleagues working with Maruti.

A second meeting, conducted by the All India Trade Union Congress, is expected to be held on Friday (July 27).

Scheduled as a remembrance of the 2005 worker protest at the Honda plant, this meeting was attended by around 10 unions from nearby facilities belonging to both automakers and suppliers such as Rico Auto. Maruti’s Gurgaon plant union was also present.

“There should be a CBI enquiry, instead of police investigations. You may find other culprits as well, maybe competitor companies. The Manesar workers are very scared,” said Mr Kuldeep Singh Janghu, Secretary-General of the Maruti Suzuki Kamgaar Union (Gurgaon plant).

Memo to CM

The Unions, under the joint banner of ‘Trade Union Council’, have sent a memorandum to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, asking for various measures against wrongful police detention and to protect workers who are innocent.

“We have appealed to the CM that innocents and their families should not be harmed. The investigation is on and they need to find the main culprits of the violence. Proceedings should be made against the bouncers and company people involved as well. We don’t want unnecessary trouble,” Mr Harjeet, General-Secretary of the Honda Plant Union, said.

The memorandum also asked for the minimum wage to be raised from Rs 4,200 to Rs 15,000, a better check on labour law violation, clearance of old cases pending with Honda and conversion of contract labour to permanent workers.

roudra.b@thehindu.co.in

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