Two unions contend to represent auto-makers union in India, but why can't the unions share the role of labour representation?

Two unions contend to represent auto-makers union in India, but why can't the unions share the role of labour representation?  The idea that two unions, or more, can't share the task of representation of workers in a given auto-making plant is more than questionable.  It's done already in many places around the world. It requires a prior commitment to dialogue between the two or more unions which represent workers in a given plant, company, or industry in the same country. The case I know best is to be found in Europe, where in many countries like France, Netherlands, and others, an annual vote determines the proportional representation of freely chosen unions in each industrial sector and manufacturing plant.  The prior commitment to inter-union dialogue in the work place of unions with widely divergent labourviews and philosophical-religious commitments is related to the desire for the workers' dialogue with management and owners.  This is, therefore, a complex and demanding task.  Multi-union representation in a single factory or mine is part of a system that values very highly the freedom of association, pluralization of labour representation, and general respect for differences while cooperating for the common good of workers, and from there an extension to the common good of the company and industry, and peace of the country.  This arrangement does not rule out strikes, but it does not inherently foster them either.  The brothers and sisters in India need a change of heart in regard to their own labourview.

— Albert Gedraitis

IndustriALL global union (Nov1,2k12)

Hyundai Motor India workers on strike

01.11.2012 

Hyundai Motor India workers launched their 4th strike action on 30 October 2012 demanding the reinstatement of remaining 27 workers who were dismissed in 2008, recognition of Hyundai Motor India Employees’ Union (HMIEU) and renegotiation of wage agreement.

Hyundai workers on strike in India — foto IndustriALL

Hyundai Motor India management’s intransigent attitude and denial of genuine trade union rights has again force its workers to take strike action. On 30 October 2012 workers led by Hyundai Motor India Employees’ Union (HMIEU) launched strike action at Irungattukottai near Chennai. As [Indian state of] Tamilnadu police denied permission to conduct a peaceful protest action near the factory, workers are holding the protest demonstration at Assistant Labour Commissioner Office at SIPCOT Industrial Complex.

This strike action comes on the backdrop of a recently concluded wage agreement between the Hyundai India management and United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE) on 18 October 2012.

Key demands of the striking workers are:

• Reinstatement of 27 workers, who were sacked by the management in the year 2008.
• Recognition of the HMIEU by the management or to hold a secret ballot election to decide the majority union. 
• Renegotiation of the recently concluded wage agreement with the UUHE.

HMIEU was formed in 2007 and affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). During a strike action in 2008 the management dismissed 87 workers. Even after prolonged negotiations between the HMIEU and the management with the involvement of Government officials, still 27 workers remain dismissed, while others who were charged with similar offences were reinstated. It is significant to note that dismissed workers include office bearers of the HMIEU.

On the other hand, the management has swiftly recognized the United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE) soon after its formation in May 2011 and signed a wage agreement. HMIEU allege that it is unfair labour practice as the management neither informed nor consulted HMIEU, even though the union has submitted charter demands on various issues including wages in February 2012.  R Sridher, General Secretary of HMIEU alleges that, the management has been forcing workers to accept its anti-worker wage agreement with UUHE.

On 1 November, A S Soundararajan, Member of Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly and Honorary President of HMIEU raised the issue in the legislative assembly and called for intervention of the state government to find a solution to the dispute at Hyundai Motor India. A meeting between the management and the HMIEU union in the presence of the State Labour Minister had been scheduled to be held in the late evening on 1 November.