New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) An hour-long tools-down protest was held Thursday at automobile major Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing plant in Haryana’s Manesar after six workers were suspended for manhandling a supervisor, a company official said. There was no production loss.
‘It was an hour long tool-down by the workers and not a strike. The company has suffered no production loss,’ senior Maruti Suzuki official told IANS.
According to the official, the protest started after two workers were suspended due to their involvement in an incident in which a supervisor was manhandled Wednesday.
‘Two workers assaulted a supervisor at Manesar plant. Today disciplinary action was taken by the management and both the workers were suspended. Due to this, there was a tools-down,’ the official said.
The auto giant said that there was no need for panic as the operations were commenced after the tools-down and that there were no fears of a strike at the plant which recently saw a 13-day workers’ agitation in June over formation and recognition of a new employees’ union.
Workers refuted the company’s charges. ‘We have not done anything wrong. These charges are malicious in nature,’ said Shiv Kumar, general secretary, Maruti Suzuki Employees’ Union (MSEU) which is still awaiting official recognition from the government.
Maruti’s facility at Manesar produces its bestseller hatchbacks and sedans like the Swift, Swift Dzire, A-Star and SX4 at the rate of 1,200 units per day.
