NEW DELHI: Production at Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar plant was disrupted today afternoon when workers went on a tool-down strike protesting against the suspension of five colleagues.
The workers resorted to a one-hour stir resulting in production loss of about 50 units when five of them were suspended for "allegedly assaulting a supervisor" yesterday.
The unrest comes close on the heels of a 13-day-long strike at the plant last month that had resulted in a loss of about Rs 630 crore.
When contacted, a company spokesperson said: "One of the supervisors was assaulted by workers yesterday and when disciplinary action was being taken today by way of suspension, they have struck works at the plant. The number of workers on strike are much less this time."
It is understood that the five suspended workers had been issued a show-cause notice by the management.
The workers, however, insisted it was not a full-scale strike but admitted there was a production loss of about 50 units on account of the one-hour tool-down strike.
"The management had suspended five workers alleging they indulged in fighting but nothing of that sort happened. We are being victimised as we had formed a union against their wishes," Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU) General Secretary Shiv Kumar told PTI.
MSEU is in talks with the management to sort out the issue as workers are not in favour of any strike that may again result in loss to the company, he added.
Management sources said the second shift of production was proposed to be suspended at the plant. However, normal production resumed following intervention of Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union (MUKU).
The five suspended workers include Kumar and MSEU Secretary Rishi Pal.
Earlier on June 4, workers at the plant had gone on a 13 -day-long strike demanding the recognition of the new union, MSEU. The company has only one recognised union -- MUKU. MSEU members had boycotted the recently held elections of MUKU.
The strike ended following the intervention of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with the management agreeing to take back 11 sacked workers and reduced no-work no-pay penalty.
The settlement agreement, however, did not address the issue of forming a new union at the Manesar plant resulting in claims and counter claims from both sides.
The shares of the company today closed 1.66 per cent down at Rs 1,186.45 apiece on the Bombay Stock Exchange.