Unique Protest in Gurgaon

Unique Protest in Gurgaon

On the New Year Day, Gurgaon, the industrial hub of NCR, witnessed a unique protest, protest against the violation of labour laws and the increasing violence aginst women. Jointly organised by the Suzuki Employees Union, Manesar and Janwadi Mahila Samiti, in front of the DM’s office in Gurgaon, it was attended by more than one hundred and fifty retrenched workers of Maruti, Manesar and more than a hundred women activists. The dharna was organized to protest against the gross violation of all labour laws and human rights, by the government of Haryana in collaboration with the maruti Suzuki management, retrenching the workers and detaining 149 workers in false cases and also against the increasing violence against women and demanding adminiostrative action and speedy justice to the 23 year old rape victim in Delhi who died. The family members of some of the workers who are in jail since six months in the fake cases framed by the Maruti management attended the dharna and march to the DM’s office.

The meeting was presided over by Vimala general secretary JMS Gurgaon and Imran Khan, secretary organizing committee, Maruti workers union. The dharna wad inaugurated by Jagmati Sangwan, Vice President AIDWA. She exposed the attitude of the Haryana Government which is supporting the khap panchayaths, taking no action against the culprits in the cases of rape, particularly the recent rapes of teen aged girls. She expressed solidarity with the Maruti worker’s struggle for their democratic and trade union rights. She assured that the AIDWA will not let the family members of the Maruti workers be alone.

Satvir Singh, President CITU, Haryana explained how the Maruti management is violating all exixting labour laws by summarily terminating 546 permanent workers and more than thousand contract workers. 149 workers are still in jail without getting any bail where as the company’s FIR names only 55. Among those who are in jail, there are workers who were not there in Gurgaon even.

A R Sindhu, General Secretary AIFAWH congratulated the JMS and the Maruti Workers Union who had decided to have the joint agitation, since both the issues are related to the policies of the government. She said that the central trade union had extended all possible support to the striking maruti workers and passed a resolution in regard in the march to Parliament on 20th December 2012. Wife of one Maruti worker who is under detention, narrated her story how she is facing the questions of people around her.

The meeting was addressed by Pushpendra Tyagi, from the CITU centre and Sunand, Joint Secretary SFI. Imaan khan explained the future action plan of maruti workers union and seek the support of all.

The participants marched to the DM’s office, where they were stopped at the gate. When the workers and women were not ready to go back, the DM came out and took the memorandum from the agitators. She assured that all the suggestions made by the JMS on the safety of women are welcome and she will see it all implemented. In case of Maruti workers demand, she said she will do all needful.