Bajaj Auto: Workers strike at Chakan strike called off

The workers strike at Bajaj Auto's Chakan factory, off Pune has been called off, according to the motorcycle and three wheeler maker. The striking workers, represented by the Vishwa Kalyan Kamgaar Sanghatana (VKKS), are said to have unconditionally called off the strike, and are expected to join work immediately.

Note: Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS image used as an illustration

However, the production of the Pulsar range of motorcycles, which was shifted from Chakan to the Waluj factory, at Aurangabad, will not be shifted back to Chakan immediately. Bajaj Auto plans to maintain status quo on the Pulsar motorcycle, with production continuing at Waluj for the time being. 

The main demands of the striking workers were,

Reinstatement of 22 workers suspended pending enquiry for allegedly slowing down production at Chakan

Allocation of 500 shares at a price of 1 rupee per share, to each of the 900 workers of Chakan

Better working conditions and wages

As the strike has been called off unconditionally, none of these demands have been met as of now although Bajaj Auto's Managing Director Mr. Rajiv Bajaj has made the following assertion through an official press statement,

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.

Mr. Rajiv Bajaj took a tough stand against the striking workers right from day one, calling their demand unreasonable. He had also given the striking workers an August 12th deadline, later extended to 16th August, for them to rejoin work. On expiry of the deadline, Mr Bajaj threatened to shift Pulsar production to Waluj as a long term measure.  

Bajaj Auto's Chakan factory produces the flagship Pulsar range of motorcycles, both for India as well as the export markets. The facility also produces KTM and Kawasaki motorcycles such as the Duke 125, 200 and 390 models, and the Ninja 300R and the 650R respectively. 

With the festive season fast approaching, the strike being called off at Chakan comes at a propitious moment for Bajaj Auto as the motorcycle maker can now gear up to meet the higher festive season demand. Deliveries of the recently launched KTM Duke 390 could happen at a faster pace now that the 49 day strike is said to have been called off. The strike began on the 25th of June 2013, and has run up to the 13th of August 2013.