There is a sorry history of violence at Maruti Suzuki. It is part of the legacy of the brutal, racist, unethical British treatment of what they considered to be scum.
A new wage agreement covering only permanent employees has been reached at Maruti Suzuki plants in India. Temporary workers – left out of the agreement – demonstrated at the gates of the Manesar plant, abut they were dispersed by police. The agreement between Maruti Suzuki management and unions at the three plants in India does not cover wages of temporary workers, or the workers dismissed in 2012.
The more than 3,000 temporary workers at the Manesar plant had been demanding wages at par with permanent workers, and rallied at the plant gates to show their discontent. Police responded “violently” – by some accounts – breaking up the demonstrators. Several workers were injured and arrested. Some of the arrested workers have since been released on bail.
Two former Maruti Suzuki employees, Khushi Ram and Jitender, were initially arrested, police said. Both were employees at the plant but were fired after violence in July 2012 where a company executive was killed and nearly 100 people were injured.
“This level of violence is wholly unacceptable. IndustriALL condemns the brutal acts of the police, clearly supporting company management, said IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary Fernando Lopes. “We call for a peaceful resolution of all labor issues at Maruti Suzuki, including the temporary workers.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
