Maruti Suzuki strike called off as agreement reached

Maruti SuzukiManesar (Haryana), June 17:  The workers at auto major Maruti Suzuki's plant in this Haryana town called off their 13-day long strike, after an agreement was reached between them and the company management on the issue of a second union.

"The strike have been called off. The management and the 2,000-odd workers of Maruti have reached an understanding," Anil Kumar, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told IANS.

According to him, the company has agreed, in principle, to allow a second union at the plant in course of time. It also agreed to reinstate the 11 sacked workers immediately.

However, the workers will not receive pay from the duration of the strike, and will help the management in every way in making up for the losses suffered during the agitation, Kumar added.

Confirming the news, a senior Maruti Suzuki official told IANS: "The strike has been called off. We expect to restart production at our facility soon."

The official however did not divulge the details of the agreed terms between the workers and management.

The strike which started on June 4, had costed Maruti Suzuki a production loss of around 12,600 cars pegged at a value of Rs. 380 crore.

Maruti's facility at Manesar produces its bestseller hatchbacks and sedans like the Swift, Swift Dzire, A-Star and SX4. (IANS)