Honda workers plan 17-km protest march on Friday
GURUGRAM:MORE than 2,000 workers of the Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) plant in IMT Manesar, along with workers and union members of several other automotive plants in the area, have decided to hold a demonstration on Friday if demands of the HMSI workers, who are on strike since November 5, are not met.
Members of the HMSI workers’ union said they would be marching from IMT Manesar to the Mini Secretariat in Gurugram on Friday. A meeting was held at Tau Devi Lal Park in Sector 53 on Wednesday, in which several workers’ unions of automotive manufacturers in Manesar and Gurugram took part.
“All unions have extended support for the demonstration. The 17-kilometre route between IMT and Mini Secretariat near Rajiv Chowk on NH-48 and could be blocked as a result,” said Suresh Gaur, president of the union. He added that another demonstration has been planned for November 27 at the Hero Honda Chowk.
Workers have demanded that the 650 contractual workers let go of by the company be recalled or be paid a compensation of ₹1 lakh, for each year of service, per worker.
Meanwhile, the European Workers Platform (EWP), a trade union platform, representing unions of Honda in Europe, issued a statement of solidarity with the striking workers in Manesar.
Honda spokespersons were asked for a comment on the issue on Wednesday, but they did not respond.
Production has been shut at the HMSI’S Manesar plant since November 11.