July 19, 2012: Labour strife has once again struck Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, following a clash between workers and managerial staff. According to newspaper reports, one person was killed and at least 90 injured on Wednesday evening.

Trouble arose apparently after a supervisor made remarks against an employee, triggering off violent protests by fellow workers. While there was an attempt by the management to address the matter, workers allegedly went on a rampage setting parts of the factory on fire. Local police evicted around 3,000 workers.

This incident comes a full year after workers struck work on June 4, 2011 to protest against the management’s refusal to recognise an independent union. A fortnight later, the strike was called off with the union accepting an offer to set up an independent body at Manesar under an umbrella union covering all of Maruti and an unconditional signing of a ‘good conduct’ bond.

Production stoppage at the Manesar plant, which rolls out the Swift hatchback and Dzire saloon along with the SX4 and A-star, will hit Maruti hard. Models like the Swift and Dzire have been clocking in the numbers for Maruti at close to 30,000 a month. The Manesar A and B plants currently have a manufacturing capacity of 550,000 units per annum and produce around 1,250 cars every day.

The Gurgaon plant remains unaffected by the crisis.