Sonipat Budweiser Plant: Management Retaliates with ‘Selective Victimisation’, Suspends Union Members

The tussle between the management of the Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev) Budweiser plant in Sonipat and the workers of Haryana Breweries Ltd. Mazdoor Union (HBMU) has taken another ugly turn with the management taking retaliating measures against the union members for speaking to media regarding their struggle.

In a move, which the union members allege is ‘selective victimization’, two union members, Santram Verma and Narendra Pal, were suspended. According to the union, the management has taken such measures in retaliation to the media reports that highlighted AB InBev management’s indifference to the struggles of the HBMU workers.

Earlier, Newsclick reported about the 500th day of uninterrupted protest by the HBMU workers. Their grievances included termination of union leaders, withdrawal of union recognition, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh’s (BMS) duplicity and AB InBev management’s refusal to negotiate on the demands of the union.

On July 24, while the report is being written, the workers observed their 517th day of protest.

The determination shown by the workers was reported by several media houses which gained management’s attention to respond to the worker’s demonstration. Surprisingly, instead of solving the issue, the management chose to suspend the workers, who took part in the protest, in order to send a message to the other union members.

However, such vengeful acts will only strengthen the unity of the workers, says the leaders of the union.

Newsclick spoke to Deshraj Yadav, former general secretary of the HBMU and a victim of management’s ‘selective victimization’, who himself has been challenging his termination for three years. He commented that the charges on which the two union members were suspended are flimsy, out of which one of the case involving Narendra Pal, dates back to a minor brawl that took place on July 2 between him and others who belonged to the management. The case was reopened by the authorities in order to suspend him. No enquiry date has been fixed yet.

“The two members, even while serving their suspension period, have continued to join the protest against the AB InBev’s management,” Yadav added.

Pravin Khotkar, member of International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) – an international federation of trade unions – while speaking to NewsClick also shared his concern regarding the management’s attempt to break the union by going after individuals. According to him, even in Europe, AB InBev’s plants have been accused repeatedly of violations of labour laws.

IUF is currently representing HBMU in a case filed in the Belgium courts of OECD Watch – a global network that forms guidelines for multinational enterprises regarding the business conduct in their worldwide operations – against the AB InBev India.

Being the owner of well over 500 beer brands, the Belgian-Brazilian company is world’s biggest beer producer and operates around 17 brewery plants in India.

NewsClick also tried to speak to the AB InBev Sonipat plant’s head, but the calls went unanswered.

*This is a developing story.

Also read: Repression, Duplicity and 500 Days of Protest: Brewery Workers Stand United