Maruti Suzuki closed two of its factories- the Manesar plant and the nearby Gurgaon plant on Friday, September 16, 2011, due to lack of availability of components.
A dispute between the management and a section of the union at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant is snowballing into a full blown labour unrest in the region. Suzuki Motorcycles’ plant workers have also joined the strike supporting the Manesar plant workers, which has resulted in cutting off vital component supplies to Maruti Suzuki. Thus, due to shortage of engine supply, the company has announced a shutdown at two of its Haryana plants on September 16, 2011. Workers have also gone on strike at the factory of Suzuki Castings, part of Suzuki Powertrain.
On August 29, 2011, Maruti asked its workers at Manesar plant to sign a “good conduct bond” only after which they could enter the factory. Maruti justified the need to sign the bond after the company said it discovered “serious and deliberate” quality problems. So far only 116 employees have signed the bond. Maruti also clarified it would not hold talks with the workers at Manesar plant who are part of the so-called Maruti Suzuki Employees Union as the management does not recognize the union.
Maruti has refused to back down and had already announced a few days earlier to open a new plant in Gujarat.