Honda refutes claims of sacked workers, says action for indiscipline

JAIPUR: Five sacked workers of the Honda two-wheeler manufacturing plant at Tapukara in Alwar district have been sitting on indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, since September 19. On Wednesday, in a press release, the Honda manufacturing unit said workers were making false allegations and had been terminated on grounds of indiscipline. The workers have said that they had attempted to unionize and were punished for their attempts at collective bargaining.
In its press release, Honda claimed work was proceeding apace at the plant Alwar and about 4,500 units were being manufactured each day.Claiming that charges workers made were “baseless”, the release said workers were earning about Rs 31,000 after a recent hike, and those who had served for three years were earning Rs 40,000. Also, there already exists a registered union at both the plants in Manesar, Haryana and Alwar, Rajasthan, which engages in negotiation with the management.
In the press release, Honda claimed that workers had set about forming another union and had charged Rs 11,000 from workers towards setting it up. Those who refused to pay the money were beaten, the Honda press release issued by senior account executive Jolly Jain said.
Surendra Kirdoliya, a leader of the workers on strike, told TOI, “We sought Rs1,000 for the union, and issued receipts for the amount. We did not force anyone to part with money for the union. Also, most workers at the Tapukara unit earn about Rs 26,000 per month. At Manesar, the salary is higher.”