Workers’ stir at GM’s Halol unit amid shutdown
General Motors’ two-decadeold Halol manufacturing site continues to see worker protests despite the company closing the plant on Friday.
Around 200 workers gathered before the factory gates on Monday, also the International Labour Day, with banners and placards to protest the transfer orders given to them to shift base to Talegaon. The workers claimed they could not meet company officials as the plant was closed.
The US-headquartered car major had decided to consolidate its India manufacturing operations at Maharashtra's Talegaon to improve bottom line. Its accumulated losses in the country was estimated at ~8,000 crore, and its domestic market share in the passenger car segment has dipped below one per cent.
In 2016, the agreements of contractual workers at Halol were not renewed. Thereafter, permanent workers were offered a separation package in the form of a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS). Of the 625 permanent workers at the site, a large section refused to accept the VRS, saying it was not beneficial. They were also against shifting to Talegaon.
Sources said a section of workers were slowly warming up to the idea of transferring to Talegaon. The protesting workers, however, claimed they planned to approach the state labour department again on Wednesday.
The state government had told the Gujarat High Court last week it would examine the legal aspects of the labour-management dispute at Halol and take action within four weeks.