ToEveryWorkerandEverySocialJusticeConsciousCitizen

OpposetheCriminalDecisionofMarutiSuzukiPushing 2000WorkerFamiliesoutofEmployment

Intheaftermathoftheeventsof18July2012atMarutiSuzukiAutomobileAssembly PlantatManesar,Haryana,India,wherefireengulfedpartoftheplantandamanagement officialdied,theCompanyOfficialsandthecapitalistmediahaveclamouredandconspired todeclaretheworkersasmurderersandcriminals.Thereasonwhythiscampaignwas orchestrated has now come to light. After one moth of plant closure, MarutiSuzuki has declareditwillopentheplanton21August2012.Ithasgiventerminationnoticesto500 regularly employed workers. In addition, another 1,500 contract workers have been laid off.MarutiSuzukihasannouncedthatitwillnothireanycontractworkersandonnew hiring to be started on 2 September 2012, it will give chance to the laid off contract workers for regular employment. Rest assured that but for a few submissive (class unconscious)workers,mostwillnotbehiredforthepositionsthuscreatedbythefiringof the2000workers. Working like hired servants of the car Company, the Haryana police has arrested Jiyalal, the same worker who was subjected to casteist abuse by the supervisor and becauseofwhichtheworkershadagitatedthateventuallyledtotheincidentof18July 2012.Thepolicehasmadehimthe"mainaccused"andGurgaondistrictcourtjudgehas remandedhimtopolicecustodyforfivedays,whichnodoubtwillgivethepoliceenough timetoconvince(torture)himtosignaconfession.Inaddition114workershavebeen arrestedalreadyandtheresthavebeenforcedtogointohidingoutoffear. The Company officials had started a campaign of vilifying the workers immediately afterthe18Julyincident,declaringthemamurderouscrowdandcriminalsinwhicha largepartofthenewsmediagavethemsupport.Settingasidealllegalprinciplesoftaking statements from both sides of the disputed incident, the one sided management F.I.R. (First Information Report) was used by the police to arrest the workers. From the news mediatothegovernmentofficials,noonebotheredtoaskwhyweretheworkersdrivento this anger that precipitated this violent incident? Why would the same workers who workedsohardtoincreasetheproductionofcarsandprofitsfortheMarutiSuzukiyear afteryearasgoodemployeeswouldbecomeviolentoffendersallofasudden?Thesame workers of MarutiSuzuki last year had peacefully agitated in three phases for a right to have their own union instead of the Company bought Yellow union that was imposed upon them. Despite company directed provocations, these workers had remained peacefulintheentirethreemonthperiodwithoutwages.Whatbroughtonthismilitancy amongtheseworkers? Using the force of money and the state Maruti Suzuki had broken the workers agitationinOctoberlastyear(2011).Forthelasteightmonthstherepressionofworkers had continuously increased inside the factory. Verbal abuse, threats and various ways mental abuse of the workers was common place within the factory. Like most other automobile plants in Gurgaon, the MarutiSuzuki workers faced threats and mental
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tensionfilledconditionsatworkfromthemanagers,supervisorsandhiredgoonsretained assecurityguards.Despitesharpriseincostofliving,themanagementwasholdingup wageincreasesbyvariousmanagementtricksofdelayinimplementation.Theeventof18 Julywasanexplosionofangerlongaccumulatingandsuppressedwhichtheprovocations bytheCompanymanagementhelpedignite.Forthisthefirstandforemostresponsibility rightlybelongstothemanagementofMarutiSuzuki.Intheensuingviolencethedeathof acompanymanagementofficialisunfortunateandtoblametheworkersforitisMaruti Suzukimanagementsconspiracy. The same mass news media which sheds tears for the loss of profit due to work disruptionfromthisincidentistotallysilentonthemisfortunefacingtheworkersandtheir families. All those of the civil society who are so concerned about corruption in government are silent towards this corruption of police and company management becausetheseworkersapparentlydonotcountintheircivilsociety.Forthemthisisnot anissueofconcern. In this hour of crisis for hundreds of workers andtheir families,we call upon all the workers in the national capital region to come forward in their support. The attack on MarutiSuzuki workers is an attack on all workers. Today if we do not stand with the workers of MarutiSuzuki, the emboldened capitalists and the state will become even moreaggressivetowardsallworkers.TodayitistheworkersofMarutiSuzuki,tomorrowit willbeyoufacingthissituation.Wealsocalluponalljusticelovingcitizenstoraisetheir voiceagainstthisgrossinjustice. Wedemandthefollowing: 1.Alllayoffs,asthesearedonewithoutproperandcredibleinvestigationsbewithdrawn. 2.Ahighlevelinvestigationof18Julyincidentconductedbyanagencythatisfreeofbias. 3.Pendingreportoftheaboveagency,noworkers,includingcontractworkersbelaidoff. 4.Allarrestedworkersreleased,allprosecutionsstopandallfiledcourtcaseswithdrawn. 5.Therebeprosecutionofmanagementofficialswhohiredgoonsandprovokedthe workers. 6.AppointmentofpaneltoinvestigateseriousbreachesoflaborlawsintheGurgaon Manesarareafactories.Thispanelshouldalsoincludeworkerorganization representatives,laborlawexperts,anddemocraticrightsactivists.

JointheDemonstrationinSupportofMarutiSuzukiWorkers atJantarMantar,NewDelhion21August2012,from11AM insolidarity, BigulMazdoorDasta,KarawalMazdoorUnion,DelhiMetroKamgarUnion, StreeMazdoorSangathan,NaujawanBharatSabha,DishaStudentsOrganisation

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