Peace pact at Maruti Suzuki plant

Normal production is expected to resume in Maruti Suzuki Plant at Manesar.  This standoff of 33 days between the workers Union and the Management on the issue of recognition of their union and reinstatement of the suspended workers was smoothened up by the intervention of Harayana Government whereby bringing about a consensus.

It was the third dispute to affect production at Maruti Suzuki in three months. This plant produces 1200 cars every day in 2 shift. The workers resorted to sabotaging production

Striking workers

and deliberately causing quality problems. The production problems were discovered during quality-control checks and included doors falling off and dents in car bodies, according to the firm. The situation had reached a stage where it was directly harming customers’ interest and trust. The 2,000 workers were locked out of the factory, one of two operated by Maruti in Haryana, until they had signed the Good Conduct Bond.

As per the consensus, the management of Maruti Suzuki would conditionally take back the 18 trainees who were suspended as the workers agreed to sign the Good Conduct Bond laid down by the management. The said bond promises that they would not sabotage production, resort to go-slow tactics or otherwise hamper output at its Manesar plant. However, the management stated that the disciplinary action taken against the 44 workers would be dealt with separately and subject to the outcome of the domestic enquiry.

Now the question remains is that can a Good Conduct Bond override the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act and other Apex court judgments which make Strike a legitimate weapon of the workers. Maruthi Suzuki wouldn’t give the workers such a bond regarding a Lockout, the management’s weapon.