Agitating workers have halted production at the Alwar (Rajasthan) plant of automotive components manufacturer Shriram Pistons & Rings (SPR) for over a week now.

If the strike continues much longer, major automotive firms will take a hit as the plant is a key supplier to them. The company manufactures pistons, piston rings and engine valves of various sizes.

Taking a cue from the workers in the Gurgaon-Manesar region, those at SPR want to form a union, and this is being resisted by the management, said a company source.

Other sources in the company said that the workers in Alwar have been sitting on a dharna inside the factory since April 15.

“There are around 1,700 people sitting inside the factory since the last seven or eight days. They say that they will continue to camp inside till their demands are met,” a worker told Business Line .

Production at the plant, which works three shifts, has totally ceased. “Only staff from the human resources and administration departments were working,” he added.

AK Taneja, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SPR, did not comment.

A source from General Motors said: “We keep stocks of more than three weeks. It is only after three weeks that we will be able to tell the exact impact on production.”

Maruti Suzuki India may not be impacted much as it largely sources supplies from SPR’s Ghaziabad plant.

Apart from supplying components to Indian companies, SPR exports pistons and rings to Ford, Honda, Kia, New Holland and Renault.

In India, the company supplies parts to major cars manufacturers including Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, Ford Motors, General Motors, Honda Cars India and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Its two-wheeler clients include Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Suzuki Motorcycle and TVS Motors.

Commercial vehicles and tractor makers including Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra, New Holland, Sonalika International and Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) also source components from SPR.

The company has two plants, one each in Pathredi, Alwar, and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).

It has more than 4,000 employees.

SPR has an annual turnover of around $176 million (around ₹1,100 crore).

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