Bajaj Auto union defers strike, again

The workers' union at Bajaj Auto has once again postponed a planned strike at the Chakan plant, this time slated to begin on 15 May, averting work stoppage at the company for a second time in two months.

The Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana (VKS), the recognised union at Bajaj's Chakan facility, deferred the proposed strike after a meeting with the Shramik Ekta Mahasangh, an umbrella organisation affiliated to Geneva-based global body IndustriALL.

Shramik Ekta Mahasangh claims to have membership of 25 unions in the Chakan belt.

In a letter to the Bajaj Auto management late on Wednesday evening, the VKS said it has decided to postpone ''stoppage'' of work.

The union said the SEM will look into the matter and has sought time and until such time there will be no stoppage of work by the nearly 850 workers at Bajaj Auto's Chakan facility.

Although Bajaj Auto has transferred part of the production of two-wheelers at Chakan to its plant in Aurangabad, the labour unrest has affected at least partly industrial activity in the region, affecting nearly 20,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in it.
 
''Our talks with the management have produced no output, and as of this moment around 850 workers will stop work at Chakan from tomorrow,'' Dilip Pawar, president of the Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana, the recognised union, said earlier on Wednesday.

Kailas Zanzari, Bajaj Auto's vice president, manufacturing, said the management had on 28 April received an intimation of the stoppage of work from 15 May, but has received no further communication from the union (See:Bajaj union defers strike at Chakan to 15 May).

The workers are demanding wage hike and 500 shares of the company at a price of Re 1 each for each worker.