About 422 of the total 2,200 Tata Sanand plant workers have gone on a flash strike since Monday. The issue errupted as the management committee suspended 28 of their workers who were reportedly egging other workers to demand financial benefits from the company. On the other hand, the 422 striking workers say that is not the issue as their 28 colleagues have been falsely implicated by the management.
Management tried to settle the issue with the workers, but the matter went out of hand and the striking workers damaged about 50 new cars inside the plant along with some equipment.
This is not the first time workers at Tata Motors plant in Sanand have gone on strike. Just a few weeks back, when the management suspended two workers on disciplinary grounds, a section of the workforce felt that they were falsely implicated and went on strike. The matter was resolved when higher management promised to investigate the matter further and submit a full report. When after two months the report was not submitted, the workers went on strike on Monday.
Mr M S Patel, who is the Labour Commissioner in the region, is acting as a mediator between the striking workers and the management. The workers now demand that all 28 suspended workers should be reinstated, while management is saying they can only take a decision after an inquiry. Management has termed the ongoing strike illegal.
Tata spokesperson said – “There have been continued agitations for monetary increases as well as protests over disciplinary actions against those provoking the workmen, resulting in serious threat to company personnel as well as losses due to tampering.”
Tata Motors Sanand plant started production back in 2009. With a capacity to produce 2.4 lakh cars annually, the car is working at just 10% capacity as it only produces Nano. Soon Tata Tiago will roll out from this plant, and production is set to increase at the plant.
