Second stir in six months, loss of 350 units in two days.
For the second time in less than six months, 900 workers at General Motors’ facility in Halol, Gujarat, went on an indefinite strike, causing production loss of 350 cars.
“The workers went on strike while the second shift was in progress on Wednesday. The government authorities have intervened and after going into the details, declared the strike as illegal. Around 350 workers have joined work on Friday and we are expecting operations would resume normally tomorrow,” said P Balendran, director and vice-president, corporate affairs GM India.
Last October, workers had gone on strike for higher wages. The company had signed a wage settlement agreement of three years, covering salary increase and productivity-related matters with the GM Employees’ Union on December 16.
“The agreement was arrived at with the involvement, mediation and at the behest of the labour department officials. Subsequently, all permanent workers were given new salaries and benefits according to the agreement signed between the employees union and the management,” he said.
Sources close to the development said workers at GM's Halol plant are divided — an apolitical union, which is yet to be registered, and a newly registered Gujarat Kamdar Mandal, affiliated to Intuc (Indian National Trade Union Congress). The workers alleged they were being subjected to excess work and the company had violated the Provident Fund Act and gratuity norms and regulations outlined in the Industrial Safety and Health Act. There is no monetary demand from Intuc.
Intuc, Gujarat president, Nihil Mitra said, "There are primarily three issues. The workload on an individual worker has increased by 30 per cent. This has given rise to health issues such as back pain and spinal cord injuries. These workers who had complained of health issues have been transferred to dealer and sub-dealer outlets in Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai and Haryana. Also, four workers have been suspended in the last 15 days. Moreover, there are discrepancies pertaining to overtime wage payment, allowances and provident fund (PF)."
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He said the union wanted cancellation of all transfers, restoration of old workload, and solution to wage-related discrepancies.
"Many of us had never joined the strike. Only a small faction, of 250-300 workers, had gone on strike this time. Some workers have joined the new Gujarat Kamdar Mandal. However, it is still unclear as to how many are members of Intuc at the moment," said a worker who had reported to work on Friday.
He admitted that work had indeed increased, but added, "While 20 people worked on five cars earlier; we now work on six to seven cars in a team of 24." The employee, who did not want to be named, was a part of the strike that had brought the plant to a grinding halt in October-end last year.
A senior labour department official informed that one of the workers' leaders at the plant was transferred recently, and that perhaps triggered the present agitation. The district labour department has recorded statements of both parties and is in consultation with the state labour commissionerate at Gandhinagar.
Balendran said the current strike was a fallout of rivalry between the two unions, and that there were no concrete reasons. He said the company was in discussions with the labour department and was willing to provide assistance if the department asks for it.
The Halol facility has an installed capacity to produce 85,000 units per annum. The company manufactures premium hatchback Aveo U-Va, entry-level sedan Aveo, mid-sized sedan Optra, sedan Cruze and multi-utility vehicle Tavera at Halol. No labour unrest has been reported at the factory in Pune.