In May we reported that 42 workers had been reinstated at former M&S supplier, Viva Globa based in Gurgaon, India. This has been followed by talks between the union and Viva Global management that we hoped would bring new possibilities for the factory and its workers.

On 28^th June 2011 VG manager Mr. Mahesh Sharma- who was personally involved in the negotiation with GAWU - sent a note to the shopfloor asking five female workers to go to his office, where they were informed that they had been suspended from duty. No information was given to them regarding the reason for their dismissal.

When the workers protested a security guard employed by Viva Global since the reemployment of the dismssed workers started to swear at them. Using a cane given to her by Mr Sharma she proceed to beat them. The guard also used a knife against the women, hit them with her fist and drageed them by their hair.

When the workers shouted for help the security guard was instructed to lock the gate out of the factory, preventing the women workers from escaping. The police arrived at the factory just as workers from nearby factory were attempting to reach the women by kicking down the gate. Once on the scene the police demanded that the gate was opened but refused to take a complaint from workers until they had received hospital treatment. They refused to accompany the workers to hospital. Luckily none of the workers were seriously injured and were released later that evening.

Later that evening Viva Global workers marched to the police station and demanded that the police register the complaint. Initially the complaint was refused Viva Global had themselves filed a complaint against workers, claiming that ten had attempted to attack the same female security guard. This complaint had been filed at 3pm, over two hours before the incident took place. The complaint was finally accepted following ongoing protest from Viva Global workers. A complaint was also filed by the union at the Gurgaon labour department.

Workers report that the female security guard involved in the incident was brought into the company specifically to harass workers. She started work at Viva Global on 9^th May 2011, the same day that 42 workers were reinstated, and had consistently abused and harassed workers.

GAWU believe that the negotiations initally agreed to by Viva Global have not been carried out in good faith and have restarted the legal complaints against the company.