Pune unions threaten mass agitation if Bajaj issue not resolved

The ongoing agitation of the Bajaj Auto Limited (BAL)’s Chakan Plant threatens to spill over into other companies of the Chakan industrial belt,as the Shramik Ekta Mahasangh,an umbrella organisation of 88 trade unions in the region has threatened to stop work. The Mahasangh,in a letter to the Pune additional labour commissioner,has stated that they are planning to launch ‘stop work’ stir in other industries.

Maruti Jagdale,consultant to the Mahasangh,said they have been working alongside the Bajaj workers for long. “The Mahasangh,would be holding a meeting in Chakan on Sunday,to discuss the issue and we would be directing individual unions to send stoppage notices to their companies. We have also asked the labour commissioner to look into the issue with solidarity and sensitivity,” he said.

According to BAL,the ongoing agitation has not had much effect on its production,as the company has started shifting production to its Aurangabad facility. Also,the company has approached the industrial tribunal asking for the strike to be termed illegal.

More than 900 workers of the Chakan plant are on strike for the past 11 days,asking for revised wage agreement and shares of the company at concessional rates.