Labour unrest brews at Hero MotoCorp plant over wage hike

Workers at the Gurgaon plant of Hero MotoCorp have stepped up their symbolic protest over a disagreement on wage settlement which continues even after several rounds of negotiations with the management.

Workers at the Gurgaon plant of Hero MotoCorp have stepped up their symbolic protest over a disagreement on wage settlement which continues even after several rounds of negotiations with the management.

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“We have boycotted certain canteen items like tea and are wearing black badges on our arms for the last few days. Although we ate lunch today, we left our plates on the table instead of putting them in the dish crates as a mark of protest,” said Bhim Rao, general secretary of the Hero MotoCorp workers’ union.

Union members said they will not relent and step up protest if an agreement is not reached soon. “We don't even know when the next round of talks will happen,” said Rao.

Several rounds of discussions have been held in the presence of senior labour department officials over the wage issue.

The wage settlement of 1,200 workers at the plant has been pending since August last year over demands of a nearly three-fold hike.

While the automobile giant is offering a hike of Rs. 6,500 a month, similar to a settlement at the manufacturer's Dharuhera plant, workers are demanding what their counterparts at Honda and Maruti get.

Production at the plant has not been hit as workers have so far been resorting to only symbolic protests.

A spokesperson of Hero MotoCorp said, “We have been holding talks with members of the union at our Gurgaon plant in an amicable and friendly atmosphere. It is, therefore, not appropriate at this point of time to get into specific details with regard to the ongoing talks, until we reach an amicable conclusion.”