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Journalism of Courage
NASHIK, May 8: FORD Culture”, the system at the Mahindra-Ford assembly plant in Nashik, of shutting down the car assembly plant for 10 days every six months for maintenance, has annoyed workers, who have sought the intervention of the labour court.
The major grudge of the 3,800 workers at the Escort’ car assembly plant of the Mahindra Ford India Ltd is that they are not paid wages for the shutdown period. The plant which had been closed for maintenance for ten days, six months ago, is currently closed, from May 4 to 14.
The workers say that the management shuts down the plant in the name of maintenance, during vacations, when workers usually take leave during school holidays. They pointed out that it was a method of compulsory lay off, which was unwarranted.
Official sources however pointed out that the employees union had signed a memorandum of understanding on August 24, 1996 with the company, which included the Ford Culture’. They point out that the system, though new in the country is common in the West. The system is said to be in existence in the Maruti plants. Workers who have moved the labour court argue that they did not subscribe to the agreement signed by their leaders last year and that the leadership of the union had also changed.
