Labour Strike at GM’s Halol Plant

There is a labour unrest at GM India’s plant in Halol, Gujarat. Around 700 workers are said to have joined an indefinite strike at the plant. This is the second strike at the plant in the last 5 months.

GM India has reportedly called this strike illegal. The workers at strike belong to a new union formed in the company.

GM’s Halol plant plays an important role as production capacity in this plant has been ramped up to roll out LCVs that will come from GM India’s Chinese partner -- SAIC. The plant produces 95 vehicles per shift. The company had signed a wage settlement agreement for 3 years covering salary increase and productivity related matters with the GM Employees’ Union on December 16, 2010.
 
P Balendran, VP – Corporate Affairs, GM India says “A group of employees, opposing the agreed (as a part of long term settlement) standardised practices aimed at increasing productivity of the company, has gone on strike without any notice. The Government authorities have intervened into the matter and after going into the details prohibited and declared the strike as illegal. The strike is still in force and the striking workers are continuously threatening and attempting to stop the workers who are willing to work and forcing them to join their illegal strike.”
 
He also added that “some of the workers had already resumed their duties and the management takes this opportunity to appeal to the remaining striking workers to stop threatening their fellow workmen and resume their duties immediately failing which the management will be left with no other option but to initiate appropriate action against the striking workmen.”