As the clock ticks past midnight into October 2, over a thousand General Motors Employees Union workers at the Talegaon plant have committed to an indefinite hunger strike, underscoring their unwavering demand for employment continuity under Hyundai Motor India, the new prospective owners of the facility. The stance from the Maharashtra State Government regarding their absorption remains unbudging, instigating this drastic measure from the workforce.
The journey to this juncture follows a trail of fruitless discussions between trade unions and the Maharashtra government. The latter had earlier endorsed the sale of the General Motors Talegaon facility assets to Hyundai on July 5, 2023, solidified further through an Asset Purchase Agreement on August 16.
This acquisition is a strategic maneuver, poised to escalate Hyundai Motor India’s production capacity significantly, contrasting the current production benchmarks at its Sriperumbudur facility in Tamil Nadu.
The crux of the matter pivots around the plant’s lease agreement. The facility is leased to General Motors by the state for a 95-year term. While GM has the liberty to sell its machinery and other assets, the lease transfer to Hyundai awaits a No Objection Certificate from the workers, affirming their compensation.
Upon this certification, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is positioned to catalyze the transfer proceedings to Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL).
The fruition of this transaction dangles on the realization of specific pre-set conditions, flanked by necessary approvals from government authorities and stakeholders, as detailed in an earlier communication from HMIL.
Over the unfolding scenario, HMIL has remained tight-lipped about its plans concerning workforce absorption, while a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) proposed by General Motors has been spurned by the workers, propelling the matter to the judicial corridors of the Mumbai High Court.
The High Court validated the workers’ appeal for a review of the Pune Industrial Court’s decision regarding the factory closure under the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, Section 25-O.
As a long legal battle looms, with potential escalations to the Supreme Court, the uncertainty intensifies. The GM Workers Union harbors hopes for government intervention to navigate towards a conducive resolution. The sentiment of desperation is palpable among the workforce, finding themselves cornered by the state administration seemingly turning a blind eye to their appeals for a consensual resolution.
The hunger strike, termed as a ‘fast unto death,’ mirrors the escalating desperation and the burning desire for a solution among the workers, as the legal and administrative maze continues to thicken.
The stalemate continues with the workers firmly rejecting the latest VRS proposal from General Motors, intensifying their call for a government intervention to ensure their interests are protected in the transition to Hyundai’s management. This gesture of an indefinite hunger strike underscores the urgency and the criticality of the situation, awaiting responsive action from the involved stakeholders.
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