Confusion reigns as to whether or not a strike reportedly called off by workers at subsidiaries of Suzuki Motor Corp in India will in fact be reinstated.
Staff at Suzuki Powertrain India and Suzuki Motorcycle India downed tools in apparent solidarity with colleagues at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, a factory riven with industrial strife for several months, but Indian reports indicate they have returned to work.
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However, it appears tense stand-offs have been occurring at the plants, with the possibility of further strike action raised by one of India’s most powerful union associations.
“The Suzuki Powertrain and Suzuki Motorcycle workers are back at work and they may go on strike again,” All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) national secretary Darshan Sachdev told just-auto from India.
But as well as the festering dispute at the Manesar plant – a bitter disagreement that hinges on trade union recognition – it appears labour bodies within Maruti Suzuki are also engaged in severe in-fighting – a position highlighted by the AITUC national secretary to just-auto.
“One plant – the [union] leadership has sold out in league with the management – we are not happy with the union leadership there,” said Sachdev. “The union in number one plant has proven to be a pocket union of the management. We will see if we will go on strike once again.”
Indian reports cite workers returning at the two subsidiaries, but it remains unclear if the unrest AITUC is citing, relates to the simmering industrial dispute at Manesar that may be continuing to trigger outbreaks of further action.
Maruti Suzuki in India was not immediately available for comment.
