THE CASE OF TRADE UNION REPRESSION IN NESTLE

This case talks about the repression faced by the workers of Nestle India Factory which is
located in Pantnagar, Uttaranchal. The victimisation of workers started when the formed a
trade union by the name of Nestle Mazdoor Sangh (Nestle Workers Union- NWU) in the year
2009. 55 workers formed the NWU, 25 of which were forced to sign a statement which said
they had joined under pressure. Other 4 workers were also forced for voluntary resign, out of
which 3 refused and were dismissed.
The workers went on a strike against these actions. The demands included:

 Reinstatement of unfairly dismissed workers

 Permanent job for 400 trainees illegally denied job security
 And end to management interference in trade union registration
Despite of the agreement signed between the union and the management,4 NWU leaders were
suspended also workers were prevented from protesting on the factory gate by the police. The
strike lasted for 22 days after which an agreement was reached under which the suspension of
4 workers was revoked.

Viva Global Workers Struggle for Minimum Wages and Unionisation

In this case, the workers demanded an increase in the minimum wages since the state
government of Haryana had already passed the same which was already implemented on other
companies but not in Viva Global. The workers also demanded an I-card, PF and ESI card and
salary slips.
The management did not accept the demands and the workers stopped work on the factory as
a response for two hours everyday for 2 dayss, however on the third day one worker was
dismissed. And another 15 workers were taken into custody when the workers protested
strongly.
The workers had not formed a union but fought collectively and also took assistance from
Mazdoor Ekta Manch in the struggle and most of demands were fulfilled after 10-15 days. But
soon the management started firing workers and all the contract workers were thrown out
against which all the permanent workers protested and demanded reinstatement of the
suspended workers. The workers were brutally hit by the local thugs with hockey sticks but a
worker named Anwar Ansari was caught and abducted.
In an interview with Anwar Ansari told he was forced into the trunk of the car and was
blindfolded and was taken to a house where he was hit brutally and later on he was thrown at
Delhi- Gurgaon border. Later on he was admitted and a sit in protest continued. Finally an
agreement was signed by the Vivo Global with the workers and promised all the locked workers
would be reinstated. Out of which 42 were reinstated and 40 still continue to fight.

RICO AUTOWORKERS STRUGGLE FOR UNIONISATION AND SUNBEAM AUTO

WORKERS’ STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRATISATION OF TRADE UNION
There were no trade union activities in Rico Auto Ltd until 2009. On August 4, 2009 the workers
organized a union and secretly filed for the registration of the union in the Registrar of Trade
Unions at Chandigarh. However, on the same being discovered by the management the
workers accepted the challenge openly.
On September 9th, in a general meeting it was disclosed to the workers that a union has already
been formed and registration application has been submitted. But after the meeting,
management opposed the union efforts bribing workers into opposing it threats of dismissal
were given. After which the company declared a lockout and the workers protested against it
for which they were hit brutally.
A similar protest happened at Sunbeam Auto Ltd where the management formed a works
committee to preempt the formation of a trade union. Sunbeam itself formed a union by
appointing pro management workers as the office bearers and never allowed formal elections
due to which parallel management emerged. The existing office bearers were chosen as the
bearers of the union against which workers protested and 10 wrokers were suspended
Attempt of the office bearers to affiliate the union with INTUC was also opposed by a sit in
protest and were hit brutally. Many were seriously injured and criminal complaints were filed
against 11 workers. Demonstration efforts by the workers were failed when Gurdas Dasgupta (
member of parliament and AITUC general secretary) and KL Sachdev (AITUC leader were
detained. A brutal repression was unleashed against which 25 companies and 18 trade unions
of gurgaon resorted to a one hour tool down strike
The worst atrocities were unleashed on the Rico workers on diwali due to which a worker
named Ajit Yadav succumbed to his head injuries and Another worker Nandu struggled for
life.The entire Gurgaon Manesar boiled at the incident and a general strike was called in the
industrial belt.
A settlement was reached which restored the normalcy and the rico management agreed to
stop interference in the union and also agreed to take back 9 out of 16 suspended workers but
refused to give wages for the 45 days strike period. But agreed to pay a sum of 1 million rupees
to Ajit Yadav’s family and also bear the cost of education of child and employment of one
member. Soon, the sunbeam issue was also resolved and normaly was restored
CONCLUSION
Formation of trade unions is the only way by which the voice of the workers can be heard and is
the only means to convert informal employment to formal employment. Industrialists are not
open to accepting trade unions and management does not recognize unions despite of their
formation. Also government machinery, labour environments, and police are mostly in favout
of managements and against the workers.
Thus, inorder to fight this the workers need to be united and only unity or unionization can
grant them security of trade unions and success of worker struggles. Trade unions help workers
to get their voice heard.