Maruti stir: auto workers at other units postpone action

After beginning a tool-down strike at some factories this morning, some 50,000 workers in up to 65 plants in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt postponed the symbolic two-hour stir in support of striking Maruti workers following an appeal by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), along with other unions such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), are supporting the strike at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant.

"The two-hour strike has been called off for today on the appeal of the chief minister and the Labour Commissioner. They sought a day's time to resolve the issues. Consequently, the strike has been postponed for 24 hours," AITUC secretary D L Sachdev told PTI.

Workers at some factories had started the protest in the morning (See: Maruti stir: 50,000 auto workers down tools in support), but withdrew it within half an hour following the request from the chief minister, he added.

"The labour department informed us that it has called the Maruti management today afternoon to sort out the issues. We will wait for the outcome to decide our future course of action," Sachdev said.

Meanwhile, losses continue to mount for Maruti as the strike entered 11th day on Tuesday. Production losses had mounted to 9,000 units on Monday, with the financial loss estimated at over Rs450 crore.