Haryana: Government rolls back termination of roadways’ workers after protest
30 May 2019: The Haryana government has rolled back its 23 May 2019 order instructing general managers of Haryana Roadways to immediately terminate the employment of all outsourced staff, including drivers, conductors, clerks and mechanics amid strong protests from roadways workers and their unions. The order, if implemented would have rendered over 450 bus drivers, clerks and depot staff jobless.
Tamil Nadu: Government stays transfer of 300 Pricol workers, transfers case to Industrial Tribunal
10 May 2019: Following the Madras High Court’s 6 March 2019 stay order on the dismissal of 294 workers of Pricol Limited, the Tamil Nadu State Government has stayed the transfer of the workers and referred the matter to the Industrial Tribunal.
In December 2018, Pricol management had sought to transfer 300 workers who were union members away from the Coimbatore plant after a 100-day strike by the Kovai Manila Pricol Thozhilalargal Otrumai Sangam (Pricol Workers Union) over issues of victimisation and management’s refusal to sign a new wage agreement. 294 workers who refused the transfer were terminated on 11 February 2019.
Punjab: Amritsar Municipal Corporation releases wages following workers’ protest
6 May 2019: Safai Karmcharis and clerical workers of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation went on a strike against non-payment of wages for over 3 months since February, 2019. Protesting workers parked garbage filled tractors in front of the municipal corporation office following which the Municipal Corporation officials released the due wages the next day.
Maharashtra: Doordarshan workers demand regularisation and better wages
2 May 2019: Over 140 casual workers of Doordarshan’s civil, video and production units went on a strike under the banner of Niswarth Kamgar Sangathna demanding regularisation, hike in wages and benefits on par permanent workers. The workers who have been in service for over a decade are paid Rs.15,800 per month. The amount equals only seven days of work when calculated on ‘per assignment’ basis.
Tamil Nadu: Chennai Metro Rail agrees to reinstate 11 dismissed workers after workers protest
29 April 2019: The Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (CMRL) has agreed to reinstate the dismissed workers after workers launched an indefinite strike and a sit in protest under the banner of CMRL Employees Union. 8 workers who were also the office bearers of the union were terminated for raising the issue of contract workers and bringing to light the anti-worker policies rampant at CMRL including denial of benefits and facilities. Subsequently, 3 more workers were terminated during the strike on charges of sabotaging metro functions, in order to quell the protests.
However, after 48 hours of successful strike CMRL agreed to reinstate all workers and desist from any further acts of victimisation.
Previously, the union had approached the Madras High Court in this regard. Despite several rounds of conciliation CMRL had refused to revoke the dismissal of union leaders.
Jammu & Kashmir: Tourism workers protest against non-payment of wages
25 April 2019: 350 contract workers in the tourism department of J&K whose wages remain unpaid since July 2014 struck work demanding immediate payment of dues. Despite the government passing 2 orders for the release of their wages dated 24 October 2018 and 1 January 2019, the wages are yet to be released.
Tamil Nadu: Workers strike across factories in solidarity with Royal Enfield workers
10 April 2019: Thousands of workers from the Oragudam Industrial Area, Chennai including Ashok Leyland, Rane TRW Engineering, Amrutanjan, Simpson Group, GE and UCAL held a solidarity protest on 2 April 2019 and boycotted factory lunch on 9 April 2019 against the wrongful termination, suspension and transfers of over 300 Royal Enfield workers for participating in union activities.
Tamil Nadu: Delivery workers protest against unfair working conditions and meager pay
4 April 2019: Delivery workers of Zomato, an online food delivery company struck work demanding better working conditions and pay. The protests were sparked by Zomato’s decision to cut delivery charges paid to workers per delivery from Rs. 40 to Rs. 30.
Workers at Asahi India strike against wrongful termination
1 April 2019: Over 195 workers at Asahi India plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu went on strike against dismissal of 28 workers including 5 union office bearers on 25 March 2019. The 28 workers were dismissed last year on 11 October 2018. The striking workers are also demanding finalization of the new wage settlement which has been pending for over a year now. Asahi, a Japanese multinational, produces windshields and window glass panes for multi-national automobile companies including Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Daimler, Volkswagen and Ashok Leyland.
