Maruti workers approach authorities, strike continues

Around 1500 workers from the Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar plant A participated in the protest rally reaching out to the mini secretariat in a hope to bring an end to the workers' agitation. The production at the Manesar plant has been hit due to the employee stir caused after the company has asked the workers to sign a good conduct bond on August 29th.

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The representatives of the workers have reportedly put forward their demands in front of Additional Deputy Commissioner V.K. Hooda, saying that they are willing to resume work but do not wish to go ahead with signing the good conduct bond. In addition to this, they also placed their demand to reinstate the dismissed and suspended workers as well, apart from approving their plea to form a new Maruti Suzuki Employee Union (MSEU).

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The good conduct bond required to be signed by the employees states that no worker should be involved in sabotaging the operations, participate in strikes or in any activity that could result in hindering the production. There had been 5 layoffs of permanent employees, 26 workers suspension as discontinuation of 18 trainees in the 15 days of employee standoff.

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Out of the 2,500 workers at the MSI plant, 1500 of them are permanent employees and only 81 workers have signed the good conduct bond without resistance. The majority of the workers did not give in to the factory demands.The Maruti management has continued to be adamant on the situation and decided to replace the unrelenting permanent employees with the new workers from tomorrow. Maruti India had been involved in discussions with the Gujarat chief Narendra Modi to set up a new plant in the state. The company is considering 1000 acres of land, however the acquisition can only happen once the board approves the applications. Tata Motors, Ford India and PSA Peugeot Citreon have already decided to set up their manufacturing units in Gujarat and MSI is likely to join the bandwagon soon. Few of the car models offered by Maruti India are Maruti, Maruti Swift, Maruti Swift Dzire, Maruti SX4 and upcoming MUV Maruti Ertiga.