VZCZCXRO4041
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDBU RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHBI #0382 2680528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250528Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL MUMBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7472
INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNIND/ALL INDO COLLECTIVE
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 2701

UNCLAS MUMBAI 000382 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV KDEM IN
SUBJECT: REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES INCITE LABOR UNREST AT AMERICAN 
AND INDIAN COMPANIES FOR POLITICAL GAIN 
 
REF: A. A: 2009 MUMBAI 364 
     ¶B. B: 2009 MUMBAI 147 
     ¶C. C: 2009 MUMBAI 369 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  As the Maharashtra state elections approach, 
two regional parties, the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra 
Navnirman Sena (MNS), have incited or exacerbated labor disputes 
as a way to gain political leverage - and extract funds - from 
an American and Indian company.  The two parties thrive on media 
attention and have been involved in violent campaigns and 
street-level political stunts in the past.  The latest events 
may be an attempt by the opportunistic parties to make political 
capital ahead of an increasingly competitive state election next 
month.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) Dial 1298 for Ambulance is Mumbai's premier ambulance 
service.  (Note:  Dial 1298 provides free ambulance services for 
Mumbai's poor, charging those who can pay to subsidize this 
service.  They were among the first responders during the 
November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and Dial 1298 is the 
consulate's preferred ambulance provider for its employees. End 
Note.)  The labor troubles began in early September when 
workers, backed by an MNS union, demanded pay increases, holiday 
bonuses and shorter shift work, according to media reports. 
1298 management told Congenoffs that the company had agreed to 
these demands, but MNS members disrupted labor discussions on 
September 6 by barging into a meeting at 1298 offices, 
threatening and abusing managers.  This led to the managers 
terminating the two drivers who allowed MNS members entry into 
the labor discussion meeting.  On September 12, the ambulance 
workers went on strike, protesting against the firing of their 
colleagues.  The ambulance service has yet to resume. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U)  The Shiv Sena has been involved in labor disputes at 
Cummins India's Pune plant since early 2009.  Following their 
traditional tried-and-tested campaign theme of promoting the 
employment of native Maharashtrans (Ref B), and protesting the 
hiring of non-Maharashtran workers from other parts of India, 
the Shiv Sena charged that Cummins India does not recruit 
Maharashtrians.  Cummins rebuffed this assertion, claiming that 
that 90 percent of their workforce is Maharashtran. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U)  On September 13, about 900 Cummins employees went on 
strike, influenced by Shiv Sena members, according to the 
company management.  The workers were protesting the dismissal 
of six colleagues on disciplinary grounds, as well as the loss 
of pay due to wage settlement earlier this year.  Factory 
officials and two U.S. citizens were stranded inside the plant 
while the protests were going on. Local police later escorted 
the U.S. citizens to their hotels without incident.  (Note: 
ConGen Mumbai RSO was in contact with the police during this 
time. End note.) The Consul General has contacted the Labor 
Minister to express concern about the safety of US citizens and 
the mistreatment of a U.S. company.  The factory remained closed 
as of September 24 and negotiations are ongoing.  Cummins 
management blames the Shiv Sena for turning employees against 
the company and interfering in internal labor disputes. 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) COMMENT:  In the run-up to these highly competitive 
state elections, the Shiv Sena and the MNS are trying to gain 
political mileage from inciting, or exacerbating, labor 
disputes.  While these labor disputes may have begun with 
legitimate grievances, these two parties have escalated the 
conflicts and garnered media coverage - and possibly votes - 
from their actions.  In most cases, companies will pay off the 
parties to end their dispute or quiet troublemakers, a difficult 
option for most American companies.  As with the attempts by the 
Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sena's attempt to stoke communal 
violence earlier this month (Ref C), we are likely to see 
further efforts to polarize voters, create political theater, 
and attract voters as the elections campaigns heat up.  End 
Comment. 
 
FOLMSBEE