Bajaj's deadline over, talks with union continue

Bajaj, last week, had urged employees on strike to rejoin work by August 12

The top management of Bajaj Auto and members of its employee union, Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatna (VKKS), continued talks on Monday, even as the deadline set by managing director Rajiv Bajaj for resolving the strike at the Chakan plant came to an end.

After repeated attempts  by Business Standard to get in touch with the management and the union, Kailash Zanzari, vice-president, motorcycle business, in a text message said, “We are discussing the issue. It is  premature to commit to anything at the moment.”

Dilip Pawar, president, VKKS, told Business Standard: “The talks are going on, but so far, no new development has taken place.” Rajiv Bajaj had said  last week: “I have given my team a week’s time to resolve the issue. I am requesting all the employees to come back to work by Monday, August 12. If this issue is not resolved or does not move forward significantly enough, then 50 per cent of production and machinery from Chakan would be moved to the Aurangabad and Pantnagar plants.”