Left unions rope in Intuc for strike

This is Intuc’s first all-India strike since 1947

With Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) joining them, the Left-backed trade unions plan to cripple all sectors, including the information technology (IT) hub in Kolkata, on September 7 with their favourite ‘sport’ — strike. After calling for a nationwide workers’ strike, a decision taken at the national convention of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), union president A K Padmanabhan told Business Standard: “A few months ago, there was a strike in Bangalore and IT companies including Infosys couldn’t operate. If this can happen in Bangalore, why it can’t be repeated in other parts of the country?”

Gurudas Dasgupta, another ‘strike specialist’ and the general secretary of the CPI-affiliated Aituc said with confidence: “Except essential services, no sector will be left out, including the IT sector in West Bengal.”

The Left trade unions are joyous as they have managed to rope in Intuc as this will be the latter’s maiden all-India strike after Independence.

Apart from the price rise issue, the trade unions want to protest against job losses and the decrease in wages because of the global meltdown, violation of labour laws, outsourcing and use of contract workers and government’s apathy towards creating a viable National Social Security Fund.

“This is not a political move. We are doing it for the unity of the workers. I have not spoken to Sonia Gandhi (Congress president). But I am sure she will not oppose our move,” Intuc head G Sanjeeva Reddy said.

For West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee — once considered the poster boy of Marxist governance — this will be another litmus test within three months. Bhattacharjee wanted his state to be exempt from the nationwide strike called by the Left parties on July 5. He failed even as the Tripura CM managed an expemtion from his party. Bhattacharjee, who had openly disapproved of the ‘bandh culture’ of his comrades a couple of years ago, will need to muster courage and tactics to save the treasured IT sector from the Red blockade.

For Citu Secretary Dipankar Mukherjee, Bhattacharjee seems to be a “no problem” area. When asked if the Bengal CM will support this strike, Mukherjee said: “That Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is opposed to our protest programmes is only in the imagination of the media.”

Dasgupta claimed, “our strike will be much bigger than the hartal of the political parties on July 5. Millions and millions of workers will come out on the streets to send a message to the central government. This United Progressive Alliance government is not listening to the voice of the people. It is not paying attention to our problems. During the last few months, the situation has deteriorated further. So, we are compelled to call a bandh.”

Padmanabhan pointed out, “this is not a stand-alone strike. This is a part of our ongoing struggle against the policies of the government.”

BMS, the trade union wing of the Sangh Parivar, has opted out of this strike as it wanted it to be called in November. But the Left hardliners didn’t have the patience to wait for the winter and wants to carry forward the current momentum.

The saffron brigade of BMS is out. Congress’ Intuc is in. Still Gurudas Dasgupta said, “BMS is not participating but we appeal to the BMS to cooperate. I want to make it clear that nobody is untouchable to us in the trade union movement. I don’t care if someone is carrying red flag or a saffron flag. If a worker is exploited, he is with us.”

BMS termed the current situation as “worst” and “complete failure” of the Centre. But it said, “Recently all-India bandh was observed by political parties. So, it would not be a wise step to go for a similar strike in September”. It also evoked the issue of “national prestige” and said, “Commonwealth Games are scheduled in October. Hence this is not the proper time to call a strike. Moreover, prestige of India is involved in such international games.”

Padmanabhan said, “BMS opted out just for the timing issue. Otherwise, they are with us.”