A case study in labour vs management

Anjali Deshpande and Nandita Haksar's book examines the 2012 violence at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant and offers a rare worker's perspective on labour management practices in India

Japanese Management, Indian Resistance – The Struggles of the Maruti Suzuki Workers

Author: Anjali Deshpande & Nandita Haksar

Publisher: Speaking Tiger Books

Pages: 366

Price: Rs 499

On July 18, 2012, the Manesar factory of Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest car manufacturer, witnessed unusual violence. Jiya Lal, a Dalit worker, had an altercation with his supervisor during the morning tea break. Allegations of a casteist comment from the supervisor led to a heated exchange of words.

By the time the morning shift ended, Jiya Lal had been suspended. Not surprisingly, the suspension order soon snowballed into a major dispute between the management and the trade union. Leaders