By IANS
Pune : The workers of the Akurdi plant of two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) are feeling increasingly insecure as yet another meeting between their representatives and the management over the closure of the plant ended inconclusively here Wednesday.
About 1,600 workers have been sitting idle since Sep 1, when BAL decided to stop manufacture of vehicles in the plant near here.
In Wednesday’s meet, the workers’ union requested the management to reinstate workers on a rotational basis. It said the management could ask 600 workers to attend work this week and another set of 600 workers the next week.
Vijay Shelare, the unit president of the workers’ union, told IANS: “This will provide some relief to workers. At least we will be in touch with the management. These days we only see the factory from outside, as we are not allowed to enter. We are not happy sitting at home and receiving salaries without working.”
The management, however, stuck to its earlier stand of closing down the unit due to high production costs. In reply, the workers suggested that the Akurdi plant be used to manufacture spare parts for vehicles manufactured in other plants.
Representing the management at the meeting were vice president C.P. Tripathi, deputy general manager (corporate personnel) P.S. Ghadkari and personnel manager V.D. Joge. No member of the Bajaj family that runs the firm was present at the meeting.
Shelare said the next meeting is possible only after Sep 25.