General Motors India’s retrenched workers to sit on an indefinite chain hunger strike
General Motors India have threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike from October 2 to protest their alleged non-absorption by Hyundai Motor India, the proposed new owner of the car manufacturing plant near Pune.
The workers under the banner of the General Motors Employee Union (GMEU) are demanding that they be absorbed by the factory’s new owner. The hunger strike may further delay finalising a commercial agreement between Hyundai, which has its growth plans for the Indian market hinged on the Talegaon facility and the US automaker.
The local arm of the Korean automaker signed a term sheet with GM for a potential buyout of the Talegaon plant near Pune on March 13.
A final deal is subject to meeting certain conditions including obtaining regulatory approvals from relevant government authorities and all stakeholders.
A spokesperson for Hyundai Motor India said the company doesn’t have any fresh update on the deal with GM, adding that the commercial agreement is still to be signed.
An email sent to GM remained unanswered till press time.
This July, the Detroit-based automaker received approval from the Maharashtra government for the closure of the Talegaon plant. The approval is based on certain conditions that relate to the separation package, seeking a no-objection certificate from various agencies, and sharing job-related details of the workers with the buyer, Hyundai.
The union has challenged the Maharashtra government’s approval for plant closure in the Bombay High Court. The order is pending.
“There will be an indefinite chain hunger strike by 1000 workers by General Motors Employee Union and their families under the guidance of Maharashtra State Labour Action Committee and Shramik Ekta Federation from
