The existing DA structure at Maruti, Mathew Abraham who is the union's general secretary agrees, is in keeping with that paid to the PSUs, but "a new wage revision for PSUs is due, so we should get that benefit if it happens." Apparently oblivious of the fact that Maruti ceased to be a public sector unit in 1992, the Maruti Udyog Employees Union has petitioned industry minister Sikander Bakht, asking him to intercede on their behalf on this as well as other issues.

For one, they want the retirement age increased, as in PSUs, from 58 to 60. Other demands include `protection from any exploitation and victimisation from Suzuki' and `no further dilution of government equity in Maruti'. Anotherissue raised is that Maruti should not be `Suzukiaised in any manner and the interests of the nation and employees will be protected'.

While it is not clear as to what exactly this means, one possibility is that this could refer to aggressive attempts by Suzuki to improve productivity or change work practices in Maruti. These demands were put forward by the union to Bakht and industry secretary P. Shankar at a meeting last week.

Maruti's managing director R.S.S.L.N. Bhaskarudu also attended the meeting. While the union says that Bakht had assured them that he would try and ensure that their demands were met, it is believed that the Industry Ministry is not too keen on getting into the matter.

For one, Maruti is not a PSU and, in any case, the Government does not as a rule get into bilateral wage negotiations. As managing director, the Industry Ministry is understood to have said, it was Bhaskarudu's job to ensure the strike called off.

In the event, close to three weeks after the workers' union firstput forward its demands, Bhaskarudu has sent them a letter stating that the proposed strike, on June 11, would be `unjustified, illegal and with no reasonable cause.' Bhaskarudu has pointed out that Maruti is not a PSU, and that the subject of the strike no further dilution of equity, etc does not constitute a trade/industrial dispute, nor is it connected with the employment or terms of employment or conditions of labour.

As of now, however, the union says it has no intention of calling off the strike. Says Abraham: "To say that a strike is illegal is a standard ploy of the management they do it all the time." Interestingly, this is the first time that managing director Bhaskarudu has been seen as opposing the unions' stand in the recent past during the fight between Suzuki and the Government.