Into the ninth day of workers' strike at its Manesar plant, Maruti Suzuki India seems to be inching towards a compromise formula.
The management says it is open to a dialogue on the new union formation – a key demand flagged by the protesting workers.
“We are open to a dialogue process for the creation of a new union at the Manesar plant. One of the possibilities is to have individual local unions at each Maruti Suzuki plant, with an umbrella governing council at the top, nominated from among the workers,” MSI Managing Executive Officer (Administration), Mr S.Y. Siddiqui, said.
It is learnt that the governing council will take part in charting out future company policies, in order to avoid worker unrest.
“However we will not tolerate any external affiliation of the unions,” he added.
Speaking on the issue, the Haryana Labour and Employment Minister, Mr Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, told Business Line , “At our end, we are trying to restore harmony between the Maruti Suzuki management and the workers.”
“The Maruti management is ready to take back a few of the employees, hold an enquiry into other cases and take disciplinary action towards those found guilty. But we are trying to ensure that nobody loses their job,” Mr Sharma said.
By the end of Sunday, Maruti Suzuki is expected to have lost production of 8,600 cars, with estimates pegging the revenue loss at almost Rs 300 crore.
“We have given points to both parties to think it over,” said Mr J.P. Mann, Deputy Labour Commissioner at Haryana Labour Department.
Meanwhile, the workers in Gurgaon-Manesar belt will hold a two-hour “tool-down” strike on Tuesday in support of their striking colleagues at the MSI Manesar plant.
Around 2,000 workers at the MSI Manesar plant have been on strike since June 4, demanding the recognition of a new union – Maruti Suzuki Employees Union – besides calling for re-instatement of 11 sacked colleagues.