Bajaj Auto Employees' Union Postpones Strike Plans

Bajaj Auto employees' union has postponed its proposed strike from tomorrow after considering suggestions of Shramik Ekta Mahasangh, the umbrella organisation of trade unions in the region.

It, however, added that if Mahasangh's intervention also fails it will will have no option but go ahead with plans of agitation.

The union's list of demands include allocation of allotment of shares at a discounted price, corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for education of employees' children, setting up a museum in the name of the company's founder Jamnalal Bajaj within a year.

Earlier on April 14, the union had issued a notice to the Baja Auto's management, threatening an indefinite strike at the Chakan plant in Pune from April 27, if its demands were not met.

Later, the Bajaj Auto employees' union, Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatna (VKSS) had deferred the proposed agitation to May 15 after deciding to grant two weeks time to the company management to look into its demands.

"We had a meeting with the Shramik Ekta Mahasangh, the umbrella organisation of trade unions in the region, on April 14 and April 28, which had said that it would look into the matter. Considering their suggestions, we decided to postpone our stoppage of work plan.

"However, if the matter does not get resolved even after the Mahasangh's intervention, the union will not have any other option, but continue with its decision (stoppage of work)," VKKS said in a letter to the management today.

Stating that it would announce a fresh date of agitation at a later stage, the union expressed hope that an amicable solution would be found with the help of the Mahasangh's intervention.

The Chakan plant employs more than 2,000 workers, including around 900 permanent ones, and produces 1.2 million bikes including the Pulsar, Avenger, Ninja and KTM brands per year.

However, the Bajaj auto management had termed the union's demands as "insane" and said it would ensure that production at the Chakan plant is not hit, if the union made any attempt to disrupt the same.

Image Courtesy: Reuters