By IANS
Pune : Confusion reigns supreme over the fate of the Akurdi plant of the Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) near Pune. The meeting of BAL management and workers’ representatives here Thursday again produced no result.
The management accused one of the workers’ unions of misinforming the media about the discussions. The Akrurdi plant has two rival workers unions – Bhartiya Kamdar Sena (BKS) and Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sena (VKS).
“We have categorically told VKS workers to first sort out their issues. Only then can we take the discussions further. They have been discussing one thing with us but contrary news has been going out,” said C.P. Tripathi, vice-president, operations, BAL.
Tripathi said: “VKS has been asking us to start production at the plant first without listening to the management’s point of view. It is not as if we are not concerned about the workers. We have been paying them full salary.”
Tripathi said the Akurdi plant was rolling out close to 2,000 two wheelers every month but production cost at the plant was far too high. The management, therefore, had to stop production from Sep 1.
VKS secretary Chhagan Shankar Dhawale refuted all allegations made by the management.
He told IANS: “They are telling us to come out with a solution when they are the ones who stopped production without informing us. We are prepared to do any work at the plant, but the plant should be operational. We do not want to sit idle and draw salary.”
The other union, BKS, which is affiliated to the Shiv Sena, is, however, a little more patient. BKS president Vijay Shelare said the union still had faith in the management and was confident that a solution would be worked out.
The workers and the management have chosen to meet yet again on Oct 13 in Pune.