Maruti's Manesar plant GM HR killed in violence Friday, July 20, 2012, 8:15 [IST]

Manesar, Jul 19: Maruti Suzuki's General Manager Human Resources was charred to death in the violence in its car plant here allegedly triggered by workers on Wednesday for which 91 workers were arrested. A tense calm prevailed on Thursday as the plant was shut following large scale arson in which Awanish Kumar Dev, HR GM, was burnt beyond recognition while 100 others were injured. Kumar's body was identified by his family and the company alleged that the violence was an orchestrated act of mob, which has implications beyond one company or region. 91 employees, who were arrested, were produced before a local magistrate who remanded them to 14 days judicial custody. They have been accused of various charges including rioting with weapons, murder, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, assault and trespass. The violence in which several executives, managers and supervisors were attacked and office facilities, security office and fire safety section gutted arose out of an alleged casteist remarks by an official against a worker. The worker allegedly beat him up following which he was suspended and that triggered the large scale violence. Haryana government and police pledged to take stringent action against those responsible for violence. Maruti Suzuki said the violence is a negative trigger for existing companies and regions across the country as also for prospective investors and job seekers. The firm, which witnessed strikes on three occasions last year, has already announced plans to set up a new plant in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore, a move which was interpreted as coming against the backdrop of violence in the region. Gurgaon, an industrial hub neighbouring the national capital, was the scene of large scale violence by workers and outside forces at the Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India's unit and subsequent strikes in other units. Rejecting the company's charge, Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU) accused the management of calling in hundreds of bouncers on its payroll to attack the workers. It said instead of taking action against the supervisor who was involved in a scuffle with a shop floor worker "the management immediately suspended the worker concerned without any investigation". "When the workers along with union representatives went to meet HR to demand against the supervisor and revoke the unjust suspension of the worker, the HR officials flatly refused to hear our arguments, and it was in no mood to resolve the issue amicably," MSWU President Ram Meher said in a statement. The union, however, said it was ready for a dialogue with the management and wanted to resolve the issue amicably.

Maruti Suzuki union violence & murder of Awanish Kumar

Posted on Friday, July 20, 2012 by Vinod Bidwaik

Violence at Maruti plant is the shame & will have negative impact on industrial growth.

There are two different & significant news in this week. First news is more perilous which is related to the vandalism by union of Maruti Suzuki and brutal murder of Mr. Awanish Kumar Deo, GM-HR of Manesar plant. The second news is about Rajesh Khanna. Automobile companies are more vulnerable to labour unrest. In past, country has witnessed major vandalism by unions. Yesterday I was watching news on Zee business and Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI was commenting on the incident. His comments were purely biased against the industries and he was straight pushing the responsibility of this incident to the Suzuki management. His language was very rude and I think first he should be put behind the bar for such statements. In modern economy, companies are not unfair and I see the companies focusing on labour welfare and up-liftment of workmen. Companies also need good employees and they pay even more than the market. The problem is with the local politics and the mindset of local community towards industries. They dont understand that the managers and general managers are also employees of companies. They do not individually responsible for the decisions always. They do what they are told based on certain assumptions. They also have families. Killing somebody is not justified. Unions have strong mass base and they have muscle power. They carry political affiliations most of the times. Union leaders push their own agenda and frankly speaking they do not care about the common workmen. Issues should be discussed mutually and settled amicably. Industries sometimes do not understand grey colour. For them there are only two colours, black and white. However discipline and productivity is the fundamental requirement and right of the management and should be enforced. Responsible union leaders and workmen involved in the above case should be booked without mercy. The act on their behalf is not at all union movement. This is purely the act of goondaism. Now it is upto the government, how they tackle the issue. If Suzuki decides to shift the plant outside Manesar, the sufferer will be workmen and common people around the area.