Workers’ unrest has surfaced at General Motor’s Halol plant near Vadodara. Around 450 contractual workers have been staging dharna outside the factory premises since Friday, opposing the auto major’s move of giving fresh appointment letters to only a few selected workers.
Out of the nearly 700 contractual workers at GM’s Halol unit, around 450 workers have stopped work since Friday, a worker union leader informed. GM makes Tavera SUV at its Halol plant. The company officials could not be reached for comment.
A labour unrest has been brewing at L&T’s Hazira unit for several months. Nearly 1,000 regular workers have been on strike from December 16 for wage revision. Demanding equal pay hike as that of workers in the company’s Powai unit near Mumbai, the workers of L&T’s unit have approached the Gujarat High Court. “A court order is pending. The strike has completely stalled key operations at the unit, where skilled job is required,” said Ashok Dhomse, a workers’ union member in Surat.
Labour unrest at L&T’s Hazira unit had been brewing for the past 20 months as the wage hike was pending. “Over 120 meetings have taken place between the management and the union. In the times of high inflation, a better pay hike is required. But management did not agree, hence, we had to approach the court,” said Dhomse.
The workers at GM’s Halol unit have alleged the company of wage discrimination. “A regular employee gets around Rs 15,000 a month, while contractual worker gets only Rs 5,000-6,000 a month. Our demand is to make the salary of contractual workers at par with the regular employees,” said Nihil Mehta, General-Secretary of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
“We have approached the Labour Commissioner and the pay rise demand is already in the labour tribunal in Vadodara,” said Mehta. Labour contractor company Mahindra Logistics supplies workers to Halol unit.