Bajaj Auto has inked an MoU with its union, the Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sangathna (VKKS), granting workers at its Chakan plant, a monthly wage hike of Rs 10,000 in a phased manner. The company issued a press release citing the  “oral request of many Chakan workmen and looking at the hardship faced by them,” for the decision. The MoU was signed on February 10.

The company also claimed the union is making irrational demands in the case of Chakan plant where the workmen have a much lesser experience than those at the Akurdi plant. This Rs 10,000 increase has been given to Chakan workmen with five years of experience, which is the same as that of Akurdi workmen who have 25 years of service experience, and is the best rise in the Chakan industrial belt, the company said.

Workers at Bajaj Auto had struck work for 50 days from June 25, 2013 to August 13, 2013. The strike was then called off. The union had, last March, terminated an agreement between the company and the union inked on May 21, 2010 and submitted a fresh charter of demands on the service conditions. The case is now pending before the Industrial Tribunal, Pune, for adjudication.

The Chakan plant rolls out the Kawasaki and Pulsar brand of bikes. When the union struck work last year, the company had to shift some production to its Aurangabad facility.