The labour issue at Maruti Suzuki India's (MSI) Manesar plant today spread to three factories of two different firms of Suzuki in India, with workers going on strike in support of their colleagues at MSI.
In the meantime, MSI toughened its stand saying it will "not enter into any dialogue" with the workers, who have so far refused to sign the good conduct bond that the management has set as a prerequisite for entering factory premises.
Supporting MSI's agitating colleagues, workers at three factories of Suzuki Powertrain India and Suzuki Motorcycle India located in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt struck work in the afternoon.
"The workers of these three plants have gone on strike since this afternoon in support of MSI's Manesar plant workers," Suzuki Powertrain India Employees Union President Sube Singh Yadav said.
He said the workers were asking for an early settlement to the standoff between MSI management and workers at the Manesar plant that has severely affected production since August 29.
Workers from Suzuki Castings, a part of Suzuki Powertrain India, who are affiliated to Suzuki Powertrain India Employees Union, also said they have joined the strike.
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Suzuki Motorcycle India Workers Union President Anil Kumar said workers at the two-wheeler maker's plant stopped working in support of colleagues at MSI.
"We want them [MSI] to settle the issue as soon as possible, till then we will be on strike. Moreover, we are also demanding regularisation of our colleagues here who have been working here for more than four years," he said.
Comments from officials of Suzuki Powertrain India and Suzuki Motorcycle India could not be obtained.
Suzuki Powertrain India employs over than 2,000 workers at its Manesar plant, where it manufactures diesel engines and transmissions for supplies to MSI. The plant has an annual production capacity of 3 lakh units. Suzuki Castings has nearly 700 workers.
Suzuki Motorcycles India has 1,400 workers at its plant near Manesar and it rolls out about 1,200 motorcycles and scooters a day.
Meanwhile, MSI said it rolled 525 units of Swift from Manesar and Gurgaon combined today and said 116 workers have resumed duties after signing the good conduct bond.