Bajaj Auto Ltd. (BAL) has reached a settlement with unionised workers at its Chakan plant near Pune.
This signals the culmination of negotiations between the management and the union, Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana (VKS).
Expressing happiness at the conclusion of the agreement, VKS President Dilip Pawar told this correspondent that as per the wage pact, those permanent employees, who have been with the company for more than five years, would get a hike of Rs.10,000 a month while those with three years or more tenure would get Rs.9,500 a month.
The union and the management have agreed to withdraw all the cases pertaining to the plant within a fortnight of reaching the settlement.
The wage agreement, effective from April 1, 2013, was for three years, and was signed on August 14, he said.
While the earlier demand of 500 shares for every employee was dropped, the management, as part of the ‘Fair and firm’ approach, had terminated the services of four employees, who had indulged in violence during the strike, and had suspended 13 pending enquiry.
“They were suspended for relatively less serious offences, and will be inducted after restoration of normalcy in two month’s time,’’ BAL Vice President (Motorcycles) Kailash Zanzari said.
Five other employees would remain suspended pending completion of the company-instituted enquiry committee.
“Besides, productivity and disciplinary norms will be restored within a week,’’ Mr. Zanzari said.
BAL has around 1,350 employees at its Chakan plant with around 850 affiliated to the union.
The Chakan plant makes Pulsar, Avenger, Ninja and KTM bikes with a capacity of one million units annually.
During the peak of the strike, it operated at 60 per cent capacity.
“We got support from the Waluj plant, and had even considering shifting production to our Pantnagar facility. Things are resolved and we are now at around 85 per cent capacity utilisation,’’ Mr. Zanzari said.
