Maruti to restart SX4, A-Star output; unrest continues

Maruti Suzuki India today said it may restart manufacturing its sedan SX4 and compact car A-Star within a week at the Manesar unit, where the impasse between the management and workers is continuing.  

"After exceeding the normal production levels for Swift model yesterday, the company is planning to start production of SX4 and A-star models at Manesar plant. The production of these models is likely to start in a week's time," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.    

The company today rolled out 625 units of its hatchback Swift from Manesar and Gurgaon plants, it added.     

On an average, the firm produces about 1,200 units of Swift, A-Star and SX4 every day from the Manesar facility. The plant has a total of about 2,500 workers, of which 950 are regular employees.            

At present, about 1,100 people are working inside the two Manesar plants.      

"The company will continue to increase manpower in the Manesar plants," the statement said.  

However, to end the unrest, no fresh talks were held by the company management with the agitating workers today.     

The company had earlier this week asked 350 trainees to resume duties within the next three days after talks brokered by the Haryana government to end the stand-off had failed.     

The MSI management and workers have been locked in a stand-off since August 29, when the management prevented workers from entering the factory premises unless they signed a 'good conduct' bond. The management had alleged sabotage and deliberate compromise on the quality of cars being produced.         

Workers at the plant, however, said the management took these steps in "revenge" for their 13-day strike in June demanding the recognition of a new union -- the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union -- at the unit.     

Yesterday, the three worker leaders, who were arrested on Sunday, were released on bail.