United Auto Workers, a Detroit based trade union, has come up in support of the unhappy work force of Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki in the country, who have been protesting for permanent contracts and wage hikes.
Reportedly, Bob King, President, United Auto Workers, has appealed to R Sridher, General Secretary (GS) of Hyundai Motor India Employees' Union (HMIEU) and the provisional working committee of Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU). The issue was of extending "strong solidarity and support to fight to protect the fundamental labour rights and economic benefits" and supporting "fight to end the repression of workers."
Evidently, United Auto Workers (International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America) equates the rights of over one million retired and active members of the United States automobile sector, along with several other industries. In a letter to MSWU, Bob King said, "I am writing to express our solidarity and support to MSWU in your fight to end the repression of Maruti Suzuki workers at the Manesar car assembly plant in the Gurgaon industrial region of Haryana.”
Reportedly, Bob King also sent extremely detailed letters to Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) and to Bo Shin Seo, CEO and MD, Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL). King appealed the senior management of both firms to end anti union methods and reinstate workers with terminated work contracts. Further, King asked for recognition and realisation of rights of HMIEU and MSWU participants.
Bob King asked for Nakanishi's attention and said in a letter, "The international labour and human rights community calls upon the company and the state of Haryana to immediately recognize the democratically-elected MSWU and engage in collective bargaining. In addition, all repressive measures by the police against workers and their families must cease."
In a similar principle and letter to HMIL's MD and CEO, King condemned the South Korean auto major's failure to recall 27 workers, whose contracts got terminated four years back in 2008. The President of United Auto Workers requested HMIL to officially recognize the HMIEU and renegotiate the recently finalised wage settlement with the United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE).
