Tension brews in Maruti over union leader’s suspension

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, July 7

Tension erupted at the Maruti Suzuki plant here yet again yesterday when the company suspended its union leader Kuldeep Jhangu for allegedly slapping a company executive. The leader, who was chargesheeted today, will reply by tomorrow even as union’s negotiations with the management to get Jhangu reinstated failed.

In an official statement issued by the company, Jhangu was found guilty of gross indiscipline.

“The issue should not be dubbed as anything between the management and the union. It is about an individual who breached decorum and discipline by slapping an executive. The union did come seeking his reinstatement, but such kind of behaviour is unacceptable. We have served a notice on him. The issue will have no effect on labour management relations,” said a company spokesperson.

Jhangu, however, claimed he just had an argument with the manager and it was being blown out of proportion.

“I never slapped anybody. A worker was being harassed and he came to me. Being a union leader, I took him to the manager and owing to difference of opinion on the issue, we had an argument. The company wants dictatorship. It doesn’t want anyone say a word. I will reply to the chargesheet tomorrow and challenge the behaviour of the company. It is not just about me, but about all those workers who are being suppressed and exploited,” said Jhangu.

The union, meanwhile, is expected to have a meeting tonight to decide further course of action on the issue.