Strikes in Satyam auto and Rockman in Uttaranchal

Strike in Satyam Auto and Rockman Industries for wage hike and formation of trade union

April 02, 2012

Workers at Satyam Auto and Rockman Industries, two leading auto parts suppliers to India’s largest two-wheeler company, Hero MotoCorp, have been on strike for the past two weeks. They have come together to press for better wages and a workers’ union. A two-week strike is unusual, but the managements of both companies have refused to agree to the workers’ demands. Unlike previous strikes here, this industrial action shows signs of disturbing the peace in the region, with support pouring in from workers at other companies. The region, which saw accelerated investments last decade, boasts of leading companies such as fast moving consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever, luggage manufacturer VIP, battery manufacturer Eveready, and Hero MotoCorp. Around 850 companies here employ over 70,000 people. So, as workers from the two strike-hit companies staged a protest here on Tuesday, outside the offices of the district administration, they were supported by workers from companies such as VIP, Eveready ITC and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL). A similar march was taken out last Wednesday, too. Major trade unions such as the All India Trade Union Congress and Hind Mazdoor Sabha have supported the protesting workers. So are 13 workers’ unions at the public sector engineering major, BHEL. Workers at Eveready and VIP have presented their respective companies with charters of demands, including wage hike.

“If there is a need, we’ll stop work in our factory,” says Ashwani Kumar, president of the unrecognised workers’ union at ITC. Most workers here say they are inspired by the success of the ITC strike in 2010. In October 2010, workers at ITC’s manufacturing facility here went on strike over similar demands, wage increase and a workers’ union. The three-day strike ended after the company agreed to give all workers an 8.3 per cent bonus and Rs 1,000 advance for festival season. ITC later increased salaries of all workers.

The protesting workers at Satyam Auto and Rockman complain they are paid the minimum wage, whereas other companies pay higher salaries for the same work. They also allege they are paid less than other workers working at other facilities of the company. Apart from this plant, Satyam has manufacturing facilities in Gurgaon and Manesar. Rockman has plants in Ludhiana, Gurgaon and New Delhi, besides Haridwar. “We are paid Rs 6,500 for a month’s work, whereas for a similar work in any other factory, workers are paid much better,” says Jitendra Singh, 27, a welder at Satyam Auto. Unlike the trend last year, when workers from over a dozen companies across the country went on strike over issues relating to contract labour, it’s the permanent labourers who are protesting this time. A part of the reason is the law that mandates against hiring of more than 50 per cent contract labour. Like in the past, contract labourers are not participating in this strike.

Most companies in the region agree workers’ salaries are lower than industry standards in other regions. But they ask why should they pay more than what the state government has fixed as the minimum wage, arguing the industry in the region is still recovering its investment. With Rs 228 being the minimum wage for a skilled worker employed in an establishment, the state has the highest minimum wage in the country. Haryana has fixed the minimum wage for a highly skilled worker employed in the manufacturing industry at Rs 198, while Gujarat has fixed it between Rs 167 and Rs 171. “It’s unfair to compare wages in Manesar and here,” says R N Gour, deputy general manager, human resources, Satyam Auto. “The company is paying as per the minimum wages set by the state government. If the state government increases the minimum wage, we, too, will increase the wages,” says Gour. Rockman didn’t respond to an email sent to the company.

Data on industrial disputes do not bear out the impression that industrial relations have deteriorated. Data from the Labour Bureau suggests the state saw three labour disputes in 2005, leading to loss of 34,415 man-days; nine in 2006, 13 in 2007 and two in 2008. Data for preceding years is not available. However, the state administration agrees relations between employers and employees are not cordial. “Workers here are seeing others are paying better wages, so they are protesting for similar increase. Over the last couple of years, disputes have increased near Diwali and in March-April, because of wage increase,” said Vipin Kumar, assistant labour commissioner of Haridwar, who is negotiating between the managements and protesting workers. 

LABOUR FLASHPOINT

* Over 1,200 workers from auto-component manufacturers Satyam Auto and Rockman Industries, both leading suppliers to the world’s no. 1 two-wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp, have called a strike. The strike is in its second week now

* Workers demand an increase in wages and formation of a workers’ union

* Workers from other companies in the neighbourhood have supported the strike

* The region, which has seen accelerated investments in the last decade, has factories by FMCG major Hindustan Unilever, luggage-manufacturer VIP, battery-manufacturer Eveready and Hero MotoCorp. About 850 companies here employ over 70,000 workers

* In 2010, a similar strike by workers in ITC ended with the company agreeing to increase wages and provide bonus. This proved a shot in the arm for all workers in the area

Haridwar factories brew Manesar-like labour situation; http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=470065

 

Cut in the NREGA budget allocations

The allocation for the NREGA entitling employment to poor rural households has been reduced from R40,000 crore in 2011-2012 to R33,000 crore in the Budget presented for 2012-2013.

Issues of social security

Issues of social security (in hindi)

Resurgence of Indian Labour: General strike a great success

More than 100 million workers joined the strike
The biggest ever, the countrywide general strike on February 28, 2012, sponsored by eleven major Central Trade Unions (CTUs), namely, AITUC, CITU, INTUC, BMS, TUCC, UTUC, AICCTU, HMS, AIUTUC, LPF and SEWA and independent federations supported by more than 5,000 smaller unions across the country was a grand success. Key sectors of the Indian economy such as banking, insurance, telecom, transport, mining, postal and manufacturing was massively joined the strike.
The unprecedented unity shown by trade unions evoked massive response from the workers. As per initial estimates, more than 100 million workers all over the country – from Jammu & Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, from Assam in the east to Gujarat in the west participated in the strike opposing the anti worker and anti people policies of the government. This General Strike, the fourteenth after the advent of the neoliberal economic policies in our country is significant because of the unprecedented unity of all the central trade unions and the demands raised by them that reflected the concerns not only of the workers but also of all sections of the toiling people. Besides, joint campaigns at the state and lower levels were also conducted this time on a wider scale. The joint campaign undertaken by the central leadership of the trade unions inspired many independent and state level trade unions to join the strike.
Major demands
• Concrete measures to curb price rise and provide some relief to the people
• Effective implementation of all labour laws and stringent punishment to those who flout them
• Universal social security for all unorganised workers by creating a National Social Security Fund with adequate financial allocations
• Stopping contractual labour in permanent jobs and equal wages and benefits to the contract workers as the permanent workers of the establishment
• Universal coverage by minimum wages Act and statutory minimum wage of not less than Rs 10000
• Pension for all, removal of all ceiling on eligibility for bonus, provident fund etc
• Compulsory registration of the trade unions within a time frame of 45 days.
Trade Unions Warned for further protests
The combine of 11 central trade unions, which called a nationwide general strike has warned the central government of more such intensified protests if it fails to meet workers’ demands and control the soaring prices of essential commodities. The unions sought a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss issues concerning the working class.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2948008.ece

http://www.newageweekly.com/2012/03/all-india-workers-general-strike-great.html

http://www.citucentre.org/press_release/details.php?id=473&phpMyAdmin=3a7a0d985d532b349002380a96a45723

Attempts to Relax Labour Laws in national manufacturing zones (NMZs)

General Strike of Indian Working Class on 28 February

General Strike of Indian Working Class on 28 February
Working Class of India has declared a one day general strike on 28th February. The decision was taken in a National Convention of Central Trade Unions and Industrial Federations in New Delhi, on 7th September, 2011. The call is fully endorsed by various independent federations in sectors like state and central govt. employees and teachers, bank, insurance, defence production, telecommunication, petroleum and natural gas, electricity etc.
State level conventions in the country began with a very successful and massive convention in Hyderabad on 5th January, with more than 2500 representatives from all over the state attending the same. Dr. Sanjiva Reddy, President, INTUC, B.N.Rai, General Secretary, BMS, Gurudas Dasgupta, General Secretary, AITUC, Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU and other Central leaders along with state leaders addressed the convention. Leaders of Telugunadu Trade Union Council (TNTUC) also attended the convention. 9th January, saw an open air massive convention of all sections of workers in Kolkata, calling upon the workers of West Bengal to make the strike a big success. National and State leaders of all CTUs attended the convention. In Kerala, a massive convention was organised on 17th January in which 18 organisations, CTUs and also various state level organisations, were represented. State leaders of these organisations addressed the convention and also approved a detailed programme of campaigns all over the state and also sectoral programmes. This included district conventions, dharnas, vehicle jathas etc. A mass meeting on 01st February at Kochi was addressed by Central leaders including Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), Saji Narayan (BMS), A.K.Padmanabhan (CITU), Chandrasekhar (INTUC) and others. State level conventions were also held in Haryana, Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar and Tamilnadu. All these conventions were well attended and top level CTU leaders and also state leaders addressed these conventions.
The convention of Central Public Sector Unions at Bangalore on 13th January was called by all the Central Trade Unions and saw participation from unions all over the country. This was the first time, such a convention was being organised and addressed by leaders of all Central Trade Unions. Among those who addressed were Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, B.N.Rai, Gurudas Dasgupta, Tapan Sen, R.A.Mittal (HMS), M.Shanmugan (LPF) and also leaders of Joint Action Forum of Bangalore PSUs and Co-ordination Committee of Hyderabad PSUs. A declaration, calling for massive participation of PSU workers in the strike was adopted and is being circulated among PSU workers in large numbers. This successful initiative has prompted various sections of PSUs like coal, petroleum and natural gas, NTPC, powergrid, telecom, coming together in conventions and issuing joint appeals signed by national leaders of industrial federations or representatives in national level negotiating bodies. A national convention of Oil and Natural Gas PSU Workers was held in Delhi on 4th February organised by All India Petroleum Workers Federation, National Federation of Petroleum Workers and Petroleum and Gas workers Federation of India and a joint strike notice was served on the managements of all PSEs in Oil and Gas industries. Countrywide campaigns have been planned.
All the five federations in the post and dock sector, including HMS, CITU, INTUC and AITUC have issued a joint statement followed by joint preparations for the success of the strike on 28th February.

All the unions in banking sector and insurance will also participate in the strike en masse. Countrywide campaign meetings are being held in these sectors, to make the strike complete success.

The national conference of All India State Government Employees’ Federation, the largest organisation of state government employees in the country, held in Hisar in December, unanimously decided to participate in the strike. Its leadership at all levels in making all the necessary preparations for a successful strike. The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, representing all sections of central government employees including postal employees has also called for turning the strike into a massive action of protest. The Confederation leadership has chalked out a countrywide tour programme for the campaign to ensure that the message and demands of the strike are taken down to the central government employees at all levels.
The recent united struggle of postal employees against the threat of closure of RMS and Post Offices in the country, achieved success when the government was forced to give a written assurance not to close any office for at least the next three years, due to which the proposed indefinite strike was withdrawn. Now the postal employees’ unions are fully involved in the preparations for the success of the 28th February all India general strike. NFPE, FNPO and GDS union leadership have jointly decided to go on a countrywide campaign among the postal employees to ensure complete strike in the postal department.
A meeting of unions in Southern railway including DREU (CITU), SRES (INTUC), DRKS (BMS), AISMA, AILRSA, SRLU, SREF and others had decided to conduct campaign meeting in Divisional HQs in the Zone and also extensive campaign among the workers and passengers on the demands. Demonstrations will be held in all the divisional centres on 28th February and all workers will wear badges on that day.

http://ganashakti.com/comments/comments-single-view/article/indian-working-class-prepares-for-the-historic-general-strike.html

Stop the Repression Against Odisha People

Protest against the Repression of the People by Jindal Steel and Power India Limited

Background

People from 40 villages affected by land acquisition for Jindal Steel and Power India Limited (JSPL) were peacefully demonstrating since November 2011 near Kaliakata gate of the steel plant in Angul for their demands like fulfilling the promise of providing jobs and proper rehabilitation. They were not ready to end their demonstration unless their demands were met. Rather than fulfilling their demands, the company lastly started repression of the people in order to end their demonstration. On Jan 25, 2012 security guards of the JSPL suddenly launched a full-fledged attack on them causing injuries to about 400 villagers with serious injuries to about 90 people with majority of them women and one three year old child. It is a pity that even after such a repression of the people by a corporate, the state machinery is maintains its inhuman silence. It is not even ensuring the proper treatment to the injured, what to hope about taking action against the company. Till date, the injured people are lying in the verandah of the Angul district hospital and are not receiving proper treatment.

We appeal to the international community that in the name of justice and humanity to take proactive action on this issue, send protest letters to the district authorities, state government of Orissa, Central government of India and relevant international forums to stop the repression of the people who have already lost their livelihoods and are not only denied any alternative livelihood but also safety of their life.

The Issues behind the Conflict

Talcher-Angul-Meramandali area of Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha has been already declared by the Central Pollution Control Board as the 7th critically polluted industrial zone of India due to a large number of coal mines ,coal power plants, almunium smelter and steel industries operating here. Projects of many more companies are in pipeline to setup more coal mines and industries in Angul and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha. Thousands of acres of agricultural lands including forest and water sources have been destroyed by the companies by way of land acquisitions and also by way of pollution. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their livelihoods and habitations. On the other hand, the companies are not fulfilling their promises of proper rehabilitation by way of providing fair compensation of land, jobs and development of infrastructural facilities for the people. The companies are using repression to suppress the voice of the people demanding for their rights.

Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.(JSPL) of Navin Jindal, a Rajya Sabha M.P (member of parliament) has acquired 6400 acres land of village Nisha, Jarada, Bada Kerejeng, Sana Kerejeng, Sana Jamunda, Jamunda Jangal, Kaliakta,Ramadiha, Paripara, Dudhiabeda, Golagadia, Sakasinga, Manapur, Mahitoila, Raijharan, Tangarsahi etc. in Banarpal and Chhendipada block of Angul district. More than 100000 people (25,000 families) of 40 villages (including about 20% Tribals and Dalits) have been affected/ displaced by the project. The company had assured to provide permanent job, skill development training, compensatory allowance to the unemployed and old age persons, proper resettlement and rehabilitation and other periphery development facilities. The construction work on the project site started since 2006, the company did not offer any secure job to the affected people. The company was paying Rs.2700 per head to about 3000 affected persons as a supporting allowance. But after completion of boundary wall of the company, all of a sudden the company stopped the allowance payment; water supply that was provided by the company to affected villages was also stopped; and similarly the other facilities provided by the company were also stopped. The people approached to the company officials and district administration and continuously pursued for three months requesting them to resume the allowance payment, water supply and other facilities, but their demands were not met. Therefore, with no hope from any where, they organized themselves under the banner of Birankeswar Silpanchal Kshyatigrast Prajasangh, Angul and started demonstrations at the company gate since November 2011.

In the meantime they continued to approach the company authorities Angul district administration and state government officials. On January 19, 2012 the people of Kaliakata village (fully displaced) came to the company office to put forward their grievances. But the security guards of the company misbehaved with them and kicked a pregnant woman. It was after this incident, that large number of people from 40 affected villages organized a big demonstration at the company gate and stopped the construction work of the project.

On Jan 24, 2012, the company and concerned government officials came to the demonstration place and promised to conduct a joint meeting at Bada Kerejeng Birankeswar temple to resolve the problems. But they did not appear for the meeting. Therefore to get a new date for the meeting, people decided to meet the company authorities next day.

On January 25, 2012 about one thousand women and men of the affected villages were present at the demonstration at Subarnpur gate of the company. They wanted to meet the company authorities. The company security guards and police force from Nisha Silpanchal Police Station, and some other government officials were present there. They opened the gate and allowed the people to go inside. The women were in front and few men were accompanying them. They were moving towards the company office peacefully, but all of a sudden the company security guards launched a full-fledged attack on them. They spared no one. Women, men and children all were brutally beaten by security guards. They tiered away the clothes of the women and kick them by boots. It is alleged that the police also participated in this repression along with security guards. About 400 people including women were injured, and 94 people received serious injuries with majority of them women. The police or the company did not extend any helping hand to injured. The activists took them to the Angul hospital. Seriously injured people were later transferred to the Hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Seriously injured included Manjit Sahu a 3 year old child, many women including Basanti Pradhan, Ratani pradhan, Santilata Behera, Lalita Pradhan, Upasi Pradhan,Tara pradhan, Lily Biswal, Ahalya Pradhan, Yashoda sahoo, Hema Pradhan, Bari Sahoo, Sukanti Pradhan, Mini Rout, Binodini Roul etc, and men including Dara Sethi, Nilamani Dhal, Nisha behera, Sudhakar sahoo, Soubhagya behera, Birendra Sing, Amar Sahoo etc.

But this repression was unable to stop the people’s protests. They continued their demonstrations and were also successful to popularise their issue and get support from various organisations working on social, labour and human rights issues. Then the police openly stepped in unleashing repression against them to stop their demonstrations. On February 06, 2012, police forcefully uprooted the tent of the protesters at the demonstration place and destroyed all the materials including the food items in the tent. The police also attacked protesters. Some protesters ran away but 18 of them were arrested by the police. Then a huge rally and public meeting was organised in protest against this repression and arrest. Later, police released 15 protesters on personal bond but three of them were sent to the jail. The organisation of the JSPL affected people (Birankeswar Silpanchal Kshyatigrasth Prajasangh) declared Angul Bandh (closure of all markets and road transport for whole day) on 7th February, 2012 in protest against this repression. The Angul Bandh was successful, which reflects the sympathy/support of the people of the region for this movement.

For more information please contact the following:

Amulya Kumar Nayak

Odissa Shramjivi Union, Talcher

Mobile: 9861409290

Email: amulyaactivist@gmail.com

Surendra Pratap

Centre for Workers Education

Mobile: 9711381113

Email: spsurendrapratap@gmail.com

Protest Letter:

Stop the Repression and Do Justice with the People affected by Land acquisition

To: The Chief Minister

Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, India

Email: cmorissa@ori.nic.in

Governor of Odisha

Email: govori@ori.nic.in

Subject:

Regarding the JSPL’s repression of the people affected by land acquisition

Dear Sir,

People from 40 villages affected by land acquisition for Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Nisha, Angul (JSPL) were peacefully demonstrating since November 2011 near Kaliakata gate of the steel plant in Angul for their demands like fulfilling the promise of providing jobs and proper rehabilitation. Rather than fulfilling their demands, the company started repression of the people in order to end their demonstration.

On Jan 25, 2012 security guards of the JSPL suddenly launched a full-fledged attack on them causing serious injuries to about 200 villagers including 50 women and one three year old child. It is also alleged that the police also participated in this repression of the people along with security guards of the company. It is a pity that even after such an incident of repression of the people by a corporate, the state machinery is not taking any action against the company. It is sad that state machinery has become so insensitive that it is not even ensuring the proper treatment to the injured.

On February 06, 2012, police forcefully uprooted the tent of the protesters at the demonstration place and destroyed all the materials including the food items in the tent. The police also attacked protesters. 18 protesters were arrested by the police. Then a huge rally and ublic meeting was organised in protest against this repression and arrest. Later, police released 15 protesters on personal bond but sent the three protesters to jail.

We strongly condemn this attempt of unleashing repression on people’s movement fighting for Just demands. We condemn the JSPL’ attempts of silencing the people rather than fulfilling their demands. We condemn the attempts of police and other government officials directed to silence the people rather than ensuring them justice.

We demand:

1. Immediately provide proper medical treatment to all injured people and adequate compensation

2. Register the criminal case against those directly and indirectly involved in the repression including JSPL officials, police and other Government officials, and arrest them

3. The company must be compelled to fulfill the demands of the people without any delay, including: a) Job Cards to each of the affected families, b) Compensation of Rs 300000 to the people above the age of 60yrs and those handicapped, c) Restriction on plying of heavy vehicles on the road connecting Kaniha and Ghantianali, d) ensuring unrestricted water supply to villagers e) other resettlement measures and periphery development etc.

4. Immediately withdraw all cases filed against people and the activists and release all who are arrested

Contact person:

Amulya Kumar Nayak

Odissa Shramjivi Union, Talcher

Mobile: 9861409290

Email: amulyaactivist@gmail.com

Sign petition online through this link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-of-odisha-stop-the-repression-against-odisha-people#

New Year comes with a Hope for Change

नए वर्ष में नई पहल हो।

 

कठिन ज़िंदगी और सरल हो।।

अनसुलझी जो रही पहेली।

अब शायद उसका भी हल हो।।

 

जो चलता है वक्त देखकर।

आगे जाकर वही सफल हो।।

नए वर्ष का उगता सूरज।

सबके लिए सुनहरा पल हो।।

समय हमारा साथ सदा दे।

कुछ ऐसी आगे हलचल हो।।

सुख के चौक पुरें हर द्वारे।

सुखमय आँगन का हर पल हो।।

(by Munish Kumar)

Textile workers strike in Ludhiana continues

In the strike of the textile workers under the banner of Textile Mazdoor Union, the workers decided to start indefinite gherao of the labor department from 7th of October. Workers said that as the labor department is not taking any pains to address the plight of workers, so now the workers will make the officials to feel the heat. There is also news of cracks in the camp of millowners. The workers said that some of the owners are ready to accept the demands of workers & they are contacting the union for it but the adamant group of the mill-owners are refusing to accept demands of striking workers, labor dept. is also siding with this group. Instead they are trying their political links to suppress the workers’ voice but workers are saying that their such attempts will only lick the dust. It also shows the real character of the labor officials, they are not trying at all to bring the faulting mill-owners in line with the law, workers alleged. The workers sent revolutionary greeting to the people ofAmericawho are on struggle path against the capitalist-imperialist policies of ruling class in the form of ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement which is spreading to other areas ofAmericaas well. Workers said that it is a welcome sign that people fromAmericaitself are taking to streets for their rights.

Textile Workers Decided to Gherao; http://ludhianaworkersnews.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/update-on-the-14th-day-of-the-textile-workers-strike-in-ludhiana/

Maruti Suzuki workers strike ended in a defeat

After a month long struggle by workers of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), a car manufacturing giant, at Manesar plant, Gurgaon, India an agreement is reached between the management and workers of MSIL Manesar Plant and Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union (MUKU) on September 30, 2011.

The MSIL management locked its gates on August 29 and declared that only those workers who sign the ‘Good Conduct Bond’ (GCB) will be allowed to enter the factory. As workers refused to sign the GCB, the management’s anti-worker measures continued and total number of workers subjected to disciplinary actions reached 62. It included dismissal of 15 and suspension of 29 regular workers and termination of 18 trainees. It is significant to note that earlier in June 2011, MSIL Manesar plant workers launched a 13 day sit-in strike to fight for union rights and against unfair labour practices.