The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has extended its support to about 1,400 contract workers of Bajaj Auto’s Chakan-Pune unit, who have been on strike for the past 13 days.

A press release issued by the Arvind Kejriwal-led fledgling AAP said Bajaj was associated with legendary industrialist Jamnalal Bajaj, who advocated the Gandhian idea of trusteeship.

Disappointing

“It is disappointing that the reasonable demands of the workers are not being responded to in this unit, especially since the company has done very well, but the employees share in value addition has gone down drastically from 31 per cent to 12 per cent.”

The AAP, which is foraying into the electoral battle, gave out data saying that for every unit of Bajaj’s Pulsar motorbike that sells in the market for Rs 70,000, the shareholders and management staff get around Rs 16,700, the Governments get around Rs 10,000, the dealers get around Rs 10,000, while the 1,450 workers get around Rs 300.

Calling upon the Government to intervene to defend the legal rights of workers, the AAP also urged the Bajaj management to respond to workers' demands, such as those for equal wages for equal work, review of agreement between Vishwa Kalyan Kamgar Sanghatana (authorised union) and the management as per clauses in previous agreement, removal of suspension orders and false police cases against workers, among others.

>aditi.n@thehindu.co.in