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PRESS RELEASE
WORKERS OF MICHAEL ARAM EXPORTS PRIVATE LIMITED
PROTEST NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES AND DENIAL OF WORK
Seventeen workers of Michael Aram Exports Private
Limited (B-156 DDA Sheds, Okhla Industrial Area
Phase I, New Delhi-20) stood with placards in
Connaught Place and Janpath Lane Market on
Divali, November 1, 2005 to protest against the
denial of work in the factory since March 2005,
non-payment of wages, and non-payment of their
Divali bonus.
Michael Aram is an America-based artist and
designer whose metal artware products (tableware,
cutlery, vases, hardwares, etc.) are marketed in
high end retail department stores in America such
as Macy's and Bloomingdales (please see
www.michaelaram.com for details). He has been
conducting business in India for over fifteen
years. Michael Aram Exports Private Limited
(India) supplies finished products to Michael
Aram Inc. (USA), and operates production units in
Okhla Phase I, Lado Sarai, Kishangarh, and
Sahibabad (U.P.), and is headquartered at F-61,
Ground Floor, Sujan Singh Park, New Delhi
(Ph.29523920, 29523095, 29522297-8). The annual
turnover of Michael Aram Exports is estimated at
Rs.9 crores, while that of Michael Aram Inc. is
$4.4 - 6.7 million.
Steel polishing is done at B-156 DDA Sheds, Okhla
Phase I. The work is extremely difficult, dirty,
and dangerous. Workers are blackened in the
production process, wear tattered and torn
clothes, cough and spit up dark phlegm, and
suffer from chronic colds, fever, stomach
disorders, chest pains, and tuberculosis. The
workers (24 presently) are on the company muster
rolls and have been paid minimum wages
(Rs.2950-3386), though they have been denied
legal overtime rates, timely dearness allowances,
clean drinking water, and proper pollution masks.
These workers are migrants from Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, and Jharkhand, and are highly skilled,
inventive, and hardworking, and have increased
production quantity (by double for many items)
and quality since the unit was started in 2001.
In March 2005, a dispute broke out between
Michael Aram and the company's Indian Director
(and thirty-percent shareholder), Francis Joseph,
over alleged siphoning and bungling of funds,
amongst other charges, and the case is being
carried out in the Company Law Board. Citing
this dispute, management stopped giving work to
workers in all of the factories of Michael Aram
Exports, and workers were made to sit idle.
Michael Aram assured workers at the time that the
Directors' dispute would be resolved within two
weeks and a new transparency and accessibility
would be brought into the company. Instead,
water, electricity, tea, and other facilities
were cut, and wages were given late and
reluctantly every month, only after workers filed
complaints in the Labor Department (via the Delhi
State Kamgar Union (IFTU)). The exigency of
going back and forth to the Labor Department led
to the death of one worker, Ramdev, whose cycle
was hit by a car on the way back from the South
Delhi Labor Office in July 2005. Although
Michael Aram promised Ramdev's wife at the time
that she would be given a job on compassionate
grounds, the management has yet to act on this
promise.
Meanwhile, in May 2005, Michael Aram started a
new company and production unit at C-109, Okhla
Phase I under the name of Michael Aram Design
India Private Limited, and has been carrying out
the exact same work there through a combination
of newly recruited employees, former employees of
Michael Aram Exports who have tendered their
resignations, and contractors' workers working on
an illegal night shift, now relocated elsewhere.
In October 2005, alleging that there was no more
money left in their accounts, Michael Aram
Exports management stopped paying wages to its
workers. On Divali, no bonus was given. B-156
workers have filed a case under the Minimum Wages
Act in the Labor Department for non-payment of
September wages. Although there have been no
official closure or retrenchment notices of any
kind, management has offered workers their full
and final settlements. But the metal workers of
B-156 DDA Sheds desire work, in any of Michael
Aram's units, including C109, and have
communicated the same in a letter to Michael
Aram, who has not given a response, and is said
to be in America at present.
Beginning October 27th, B-156 workers have taken
their struggle to the streets, standing with
placards in and around Okhla Industrial Area, in
an effort to generate awareness of the above
events and developments as well as engage in
conversations and discussions with workers at
large about their common experiences and
difficulties. On Divali, workers brought their
placards to Connaught Place and Janpath Lane
Market, in the attempt to reach out to
inhabitants of the capital city more generally.
They quietly stood, like statues, within the
busy, festive market as shoppers walked by and
occasionally stopped to read the messages and
inquire into their present plight.
Should not every worker be allowed to celebrate
Divali, even in a modest way? Is this how we
wish foreign employers to treat the workers of
this country? That too, within the heart of the
capital city? Should we be welcoming into this
country a set of arrangements which increasingly
look upon workers as things to be exploited and
discarded at will? Eid and Chhat are now rapidly
approaching. Without wages, yet also without the
desire to submit to the illegal and inhumane
practices of Michael Aram Exports management,
B-156 workers will continue to be seen on the
streets of Delhi with their placards, with the
hope that some festivity might be found in these
new conversations and discussions with fellow
workers, residents, and co-strugglers of the
capital city.
The Employees of Michael Aram Exports Private Limited
B156 DDA Sheds, Okhla Industrial Area Phase I
TEXT OF PLACARDS
1. JULY MEM VETAN RUKA, EK MAZDUR KI JAN GAI
AB RUKI HAI TO KITNE KI JAN JAYEGI?
Vivad ke calte har mahine mem deri. July ki
payment me deri ki vajah se shram-vibhag mem
shikayat kar lautte vaqt car ki takkar se cycle
savar hamare sathi Ramdev ki jan gai. Ab phir
vetan rok hai to kitne mazdur bhaiyom ki jan
lemge?
WAGES WEREN'T PAID IN JULY, ONE WORKER DIED
NOW THEY'VE BEEN STOPPED AGAIN, HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE?
Due to a dispute between the Directors, each
month our wage payments have been late. In July,
we went to file a complaint in the Labor
Department, and on the way back, our co-worker
Ramdev was hit by a car and died. Now wages
again have not been paid. How many more of us
will have to die this time?
2. PAHLE ASHVASAN, BAD MEM MUKARNA MAZDUROM KA MANOBAL TODNE KA NAYAB TARIKA
Director Michael ka ashvasan March 05 mem do
hafte mem kam dene ka, pardarshi company banane
ka, parantu aj 6 mah bad bhi kam nahim diya.
Hamare sathi Ramdev ki shram vibhag mem shikayat
kar lautte vaqt accident mem maut ke bad unki
patni ko naukri ka vada kiya, parantu aj 3 mah
bad bhi naukri nahim di hai. Pata nahim mritak
mazdur ke patni aur baccom ka kya hoga? Abhi
management dvara vetan bonus nahim dene ka
nirnay. Kya ham ummid kar sakte haim ki
management is bar bhi apni bat se mukaremge?
FIRST GIVE YOUR WORD, THEN GO BACK ON IT
A FINE WAY TO BREAK WORKERS' SPIRIT
In March 2005, the Director, Michael Aram,
promised to give us work within two weeks' time
and to bring transparency to the company. But
today, six months later, he has yet to give us
work. On the way back from filing a complaint on
non-payment of wages at the Labor Department, our
co-worker Ramdev had a road accident and died.
He gave his word that he would give Ramdev's wife
a job but today, three months later, she has yet
to be given this job. What will happen to
Ramdev's family now? Now management says that
they will not give us our wages or bonus. Can we
possibly hope that they will go back on their
word this time?
3. DASHAHRA PHIKA, DIPAVALI ANDHKAAR
Dashahra to jaise taise bit gaya. Karva Chauth
karvi rahi. Dipavali andheri dikh rahi hai.
Tankhvah to di nahim, bonus ki aas karem kaise?
Baccom ko kaise bahlayemge, patni ko kaise
bahkayemge? Khud to bam bane baithe haim,
patakha kaham se bajayemge?
DASHAHRA WAS LACKLUSTRE, DIPAVALI WILL BE TOTAL DARKNESS
We somehow got through Dashahra. Karva Chauth
was bitter. Dipavali is looking absolutely
black. Our wages have yet to be paid. How can
we hope for our bonus? How will we give our
children a good time? How will we explain things
to our wives? We ourselves have become bombs.
Where is the question of exploding firecrackers?
4. DARPAN VAHI, CEHRA BADAL GAYA
Pakke mazdurom ko khali bitana, nai factory khol
vahi kaam karvana. Sthai karmcariyom ko khali
bithana, bahar thekedari ke zariye kam karvana.
Ghotala ke nam par factory band karne ka bahana,
nai factory mem naye sire se ghotala karna.
THE MIRROR'S THE SAME, ONLY THE FACE HAS CHANGED
Make your permanent workers sit idle, start a new
company and have the very same work done there
and through outside contractors. Close the
factory on the pretense of the bungling of funds,
open a new factory and start bungling anew.
5. DO MALIKOM KE BIC PIS GAYA MAZDUR
Do malikom ke bic vivad jhagra ghotala adi ki
ladai March 5 se shuru hua aur ham mazdurom ko
khali bithaya. Dusra nai company Michael Aram
Design ke nam se khol dena, kam vahi karvana,
purane logom ka resign lekar naye sire se bharti
karna, naya ghotala calu. Sthai mazdurom ko
khali bithaya aur bahar thekedarom ke madhyam se
kam karvana. Tankhvah to band ho gai to bonus ki
ummid kya karem? Vivad, jhagra, ghotala malikom
ke bic, bali ka bakra bana mazdur.
WORKERS CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO PROPRIETORS
A dispute between the two proprietors over
alleged bungling of funds began in March 2005 and
we workers were made to sit idle. A new company
was started under the name Michael Aram Design
India Private Limited, and the same work is being
carried out there. Resignations were tendered
from former workers in exchange for fresh
employment and along with this, bungling of funds
has started afresh. Permanent workers are made
to sit idle while work is done outside by
contractors. Wage payments have been stopped.
May we hope for our bonus to be paid? The
dispute, quarrel, and bungling are between the
proprietors, but workers have been made the
sacrificial goats.
6. PAHLE HALAL, BAD MEM JHATKA
MAZDUROM KO MARNE KA NAYAB TARIKA
Directorm ke vivad ke calte ham sabhi ko March
2005 se khali baithaya. Cay pani bijli adi band
aur ab tankhvah bhi dena band. Halaal kiya to
tankhvah band kiya. Jhatka mara to 60 admi ko
acanak hisab kiya. Abhi bhi hamari halaal jari,
aujar tez karne ki taiyari.
FIRST SLICE THE THROAT, THEN CHOP OFF THE HEAD A FINE WAY TO KILL OFF WORKERS
Due to a dispute between the Directors, we have
been made to sit idle since March 2005. The
company stopped tea, water, electricity, and now
they have stopped paying our wages. They sliced
the throat, and wages were stopped. Then they
chopped the head, and 60 workers were given their
final settlements. Our throats are still being
sliced. The blade is being sharpened for the
chop.
7. TANKHVAH BAND, MALIK FARAAR
Company ke donom malikom ke vivad ke calte March
2005 se ham mazdurom ki khali bithaya aur
Sitambar se tankhvah bhi band kar di. Jaham ek
taraf ham apni rozi-roti ke lie pareshan haim to
dusri taraf ek malik Dilli mem chupa hua haim to
dusra malik America cala gaya. Ab tak payment
nahim mila. Management ka kahna hai ki company
ke khate mem paisa nahim hai. 'Malik se bat
karo, shram-vibhag mem shikayat karo, malikom ka
putla phumko, jo caho so karo.' Jab donom
malikom faraar haim, to ham mazdur kisse bat
karem? Jiske pas paisa hai, vah to kahim bhi
bhag sakta hai. Parantu ham mazdurom ko payment
nahim milegi to makan-malikom aur dukandarom se
ham kahim aur kaise bhag sakte haim?
WAGES STOPPED, PROPRIETORS GONE
Due to a dispute between the two company
proprietors, we workers have been made to sit
idle since March 2005. Since September, wages
also have been stopped. While we are facing
great difficulty for our daily bread, one
proprietor is hiding out in Delhi and the other
has left for America. We have not been paid our
wages, and management says there's no more money
in the company account. 'Go and talk to the
proprietors, file a complaint in the Labor
Department, burn effigies of the proprietors, do
whatever you feel like.' When both proprietors
are nowhere to be found, whom are we to speak to?
Those who have money can run anywhere. But if we
don't get our wages, can we possibly flee from
our landlords and shopkeepers?
8. NAUKRI SARKAR KI, SEVA PUNJIPATIYOM KI
Malikom ke vivad ke calte har mahine payment mem
deri aur phir payment hi band kar di. Har mahine
shram-vibhag mem shikayat dalne par
shram-adhikari pratyaksh mem hamare paksh mem bol
kar hamem ashvasan dete haim, hamara hausla
badhate haim. Shram adhikari company mem 6 baje
chutti ke bad hi pahumcte haim, derh ghante tak
company mem rukte haim. Jab bahar ate haim to
cehra khushhaal, magar khabar hamesha badhaal hi
dete haim. Shram-adhikari sarkari naukri nahim
karte haim, punjipatiyom ki naukri karte haim.
Kaham milega nyay?
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT, BUT SERVICE TO CAPITAL
Due to a dispute between the two proprietors,
every month our wage payments have been late and
now they have been stopped altogether. Every
month, upon filing complaints with the Labor
Department, the labor officers give assurances to
us and bolster our spirits. The labor officers
show up at the company only after 6 pm, and stay
there up to 112 hours. When they emerge from
the factory gate, their faces are always beaming,
but the news they bring is always bad. Labor
officials don't do government service, they work
for the capitalists. Where will one get justice?
9. HISAB NAHIM, KAAM VETAN CAHIE
Ham kushal karigar haim. Hamne jugadom ke zariya
bhi utpadan badhaya haim, quality sudhara hai.
Iski saza yah hai ki donom malikom ke vivad mem
ham 6 mah se khali bithaya gaya. Nai company mem
utpadan karvana, thekedarom dwara bahar se kaam
karvana aur hamara vetan bhi nahim diya. Hamne
kaam manga to management dwara hamem koi javab
nahim. Hamem hisab nahim, kaam aur tankhvah
cahie, sath hi Dipavali ka bonus.
WE DON'T WANT FINAL SETTLEMENTS, WE WANT WORK AND WAGES
We are skilled workers. Through our own efforts
and ideas we have brought about increases in
production and quality. The punishment for this
is that thanks to a dispute between the
proprietors we have been made to sit idle for six
months. The company now gets production done in
a new factory, and also via outside contractors.
We have asked for work but we have yet to get an
answer from management. We don't want our final
settlements. We want work, wages, and our Divali
bonus.
o o o
[For information and comments, write to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ]
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