The worker strike going on at the Chakan production facility of two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto was called-off on 13th of August. Rumours suggest that normal production is scheduled to begin from Wednesday, 14th of August. Reports suggest that the management and the worker union differ on the reasons that have led to the strike being called off. While the management has communicated that the strike has been ended unconditionally, the worker union, known as Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatana (VKKS), has a totally different take on it.
Representatives from VKKS have said that workers are resuming work due to the soon-approaching festive season, which automatically means high pressure. However, the union of workers has said that the ending of this strike is no way an indication of giving in to the company's policies.
On this development, Rajiv Bajaj, the Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, was quoted as saying, "I am very pleased that the VKKS...has unconditionally called off their strike at Chakan." On the other hand, the President of Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatana, Dilip Pawar, said, "With Diwali and Ganpati festivals coming up, we decided that it will be in the interest of all to end the stoppage of work. We will resume work from tomorrow."
Notably, production at the Chakan facility in Pune was stopped around 25th of June. The management claimed that workers stopped coming after they were refused share allotment at discounted rates. Apart from this, the management had also turned down the request for increase in wages along with the reinstatement of fired employees. Commenting on the case of sacked employees, Bajaj explained, "On behalf of the management, I assure all the 22 workmen who are suspended pending enquiry that their cases will be considered objectively and sympathetically in the collective interest of all stakeholders."
Sources close to the union said that it is going to work towards reaching an amicable solution regarding all issues. The union is expected to continue working and simultaneously make a case for their demands. On being asked whether they are likely to resort to a strike in the future, Dilip Pawar replied, "No, we have not dropped the demands, we will discuss those issues with the management going forward without affecting work immediately. That's an option we have but we will discuss the issues with the management without having to resolve to it, hopefully.”
According to reports, the management said that the firm got a notice from the workers' union of the Chakan plant, which said that normality will be restored from 14th August as stoppages have been ended. On the other hand, as a precautionary measure, Bajaj Auto decided to permanently transfer about half of the production from Chakan plant to facilities in Aurangabad and Pantnagar. However, the deadline was extended after the company sought to find a solution and was looking to end the strike in a day or two.
