Suzuki chief meets Maruti union, won't reinstate sacked workers

New Delhi: Osamu Suzuki held a 50-minute meeting with union leaders of Maruti's Gurgaon plant on Thursday evening. He listened patiently to their demands on wage increase, other problems and even opinions on how trouble could again start at Manesar if sacked workers are not reinstated. But he remained firm: not even one of the 500 permanent workers who were sacked after the deadly riot at Manesar on 18 July would be taken back.

After the riot, which claimed one life and inflicted severe injuries on scores of others, Maruti had declared a lockout which was lifted on Tuesday. Besides the 500 permanent workers, it plans to also refuse employment to 500 contract workers who were at the plant on that fateful day.

[caption id="attachment_428193" align="alignleft" width="380"] Osamu Suzuki. Reuters[/caption]

Speaking to Firstpost, president of the Gurgaon Union Kuldeep Singh said, "We cannot blame Mr Suzuki alone. It is the Haryana state government which has taken a very tough stand against the workers. It is the government which won't hear of reinstating the sacked workers. We will continue talks with them to make them see sense".

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He said that though Suzuki heard their grievances patiently on the wage increase which is overdue and other issues, he referred these matters to a management committee which is already in place for addressing such issues.

Meanwhile, agencies reported that the Suzuki Motor Corporation's chairman condemned the violence at Manesar, terming it a criminal act and said it cannot be excused, strict action needs to be taken against the guilty.

Suzuki arrived in India on Wednesday and visited Maruti's Gurgaon plant as well as the facility of Suzuki Motorcycles nearby under police protection; he avoided a visit to Manesar.

At Maruti's Gurgaon plant, he addressed about 200 senior managers, including from the Manesar facility. As many as 10 managers who were injured in the violence and have rejoined the duty, were also present in the meeting.

The agency reports quoted Suzuki as saying that Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has promised full support to the company.

"Let us work together to promote the growth of Maruti and the economic growth of India," Suzuki told officials.

On Friday, Suzuki would be going to Ahmedabad where he would meet Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.