The Hindu : Call to strengthen trade union forces against lockouts, closures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 24, 2003

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National

Call to strengthen trade union forces against lockouts, closures

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA NOV. 23 . At a time when there appears to be a divergence in the agendas of the West Bengal Government and the CPI (M)-affiliated CITU, the latter today announced a leadership change seemingly more accommodating towards the hardliners.

The future is expected to see a tilt towards a more aggressive posture that might not quite be in line with the State Government's priorities of opening up to industrial investment and its call for toning down militancy in trade-unionism.

At the conclusion of the three-day CITU State unit conference, leaders called for the strengthening of trade union forces against lockouts and closures in industries.

The CITU would not hesitate to call for strikes, processions and bandhs to safeguard workers interests, the newly-appointed general secretary, Kali Ghosh, said here today.

Chittabrata Majumdar, who Mr. Ghosh replaces, is expected to be given a senior position at the national level.

The post of the State unit president, which was lying vacant for nearly three years, was today filled up by Shyamal Chakravarty. While Mr. Majumdar is known in political circles to follow a middle-path, Mr. Ghosh is considered a hardliner by observers.

His support for bandhs and strikes may not go down well with a State Government, which is bent on creating a congenial atmosphere for speedier investment in industry.

The CITU leadership today called for a strike in the jute sector to protest against the non-payment of bonus to workers and the frequent closures the industry had been plagued with.

The date of the proposed strike is likely to be decided on November 28.

Referring to the malaise in the tea industry Mr. Ghosh warned that even though the State Government was trying to resolve outstanding problems the CITU would go in for a more direct action if matters were not resolved.

Commenting on reports of workers in the industry facing starvation, he said the cases were mostly of malnutrition and ailment from water-borne diseases among workers in tea gardens, which were under lockout. Large sections of these workers were being denied rations, power facilities and clean water supplies.

Mr. Chakravarty said that while trade unions worldwide were a lot more on the defensive now there could come a time when a more offensive line would have to be pursued. This seems to sum up the CITU's strategy in the months to come.

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