Govt keen to settle labour issues at Synthite Industries: CM

: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today rejected the opposition charge that the government was supporting Left trade union, CITU's alleged attempt to disrupt functioning of Synthite Industries.

The government was trying to settle the dispute between the management of the Kochi-based multi-crore company and the trade union amicably and had deployed a team of police personnel in front of the company for its smooth functioning, he told the state Assembly.

Replying to a notice by the Congress-led opposition UDF seeking an adjournment motion over the stalemate, the Chief Minister, however, said the management should show readiness to make some "corrections" in their approach.

Synthite Industries' unit at Kadayirippu, a pioneer exporter of spice oils and oleoresins in the country, has remained closed for the last 10 days following a strike called by CITU in protest against the transfer of 18 employees to the company's Coimbatore branch.

While the management claimed that it was usual working arrangement, the union alleged it was part of the "vendetta" of the company for starting a unit of CITU.

Justifying the launch of the trade union unit at the company, Vijayan said "trade union activism is not to destroy any company but to strengthen it."