Letters: A risky model

Apropos the editorial "Bargains in a slowdown" (August 19), there are lessons for the trade unions, too, from the strike at Bajaj Auto's Chakan Plant. The union came up with Utopian demands and stuck to them creating an impasse at the outset itself. It failed to get support from other unions in the area because of this. Such demands can be pushed through by a strong leader and the union lacked that too. A lack of preparation and failure to co-ordinate with the workers at the Aurangabad plant enabled the management to threaten shifting of jobs there.

However, it may be premature, if not risky, to use the Bajaj Auto model as a remedy for industrial relation problems. By ensuring unconditional withdrawal of the strike what the management achieved is armed truce and not a lasting solution. It may now use the uneasy calm to restore the faith of the workers and consider their reasonable demands in a spirit of give and take.

Y G Chouksey Pune

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