Workers call off 51 days strike in General Motors India

One of the biggest strike actions launched in decades in Gujarat by General Motors India workers was called off on May 4. Work intensification and subsequent chronic health problems were the main issues of protesting workers. INDIA: Workers in General Motors India, Halol Plant, Gujarat called off the strike that began on March 16. An amicable settlement between the workers and GM management was reached at the intervention by the State Labour Department on the ground that suspended workers will be reinstated and pending issues of production will be decided by discussion/mediation in the presence of a Labour Officer. However, the GM India Management has not officially recognized the workers union, Gujarat Kamdar Mandal, affiliated to Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), though the management negotiated with the union representatives. Further, the legal issues regarding transfer of workers, increased workload, inhuman treatment, wage agreement, which are pending in courts of law and the labour department will be dealt with in accordance with law and these are not part of the understanding reached before the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Vadodara. The management has neither accepted demands on these issues nor is willing to negotiate with the workers. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Labour Mr. K O Shah, a committee, comprising representatives of the protesting workers and the management, has been formed to look into the dispute. Earlier on April 21 2011, in its complaint to National Contact Point (NCP) Secretariat, Netherlands the union claimed that 450 workers have suffered spinal injury. Instead of reducing the work load and bringing it down to a comfortable level the management is coercing the workmen to bear the extra workload. When workers complain of pain they were forced to swallow pain killers and apply pain reliever ointment. When the workers complain of health problems, they are transferred. Fourteen employees were suspended when they approached legitimate authorities with their grievances. Workers have to work nine hours a day for six days in a week, which is against the maximum statutory permissible number of hours being 48 hours per week. Furthermore, temporary workers perform the same tasks as that of permanent workers, but are denied equal remuneration. It is significant to note that the GM Halol Plant, located in a remote industrial area, abruptly discontinued the canteen facility on March 16. When the workers went out of the gate for lunch, they were prevented from entering. This inhuman treatment triggered the wildcat strike in which more than 600 workers participated and lasted 51 days.