Citu Mobilising Support For Psu Strike

The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (Citu) is desperately trying to persaude reluctant central unions like the Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) to agree to a nation-wide programme of strikes and demonstrations in public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Citu's moves will be put on test when the sponsering committee of central unions meet today to review the impact of the Budget on the labour scene.

The meeting will discuss, among other things, the government's announcement of disinvesting its shares in certain public sector undertakings and the delay in initiating wage revision excersise in central PSUs as a whole.

At another level, Citu is trying to convene a meeting of the committee of central trade unions to organise a nation-wide movement of workers against the process of disinvestment and privatisation.

But other central unions are not very enthusiastic about industrial action at this stage.

" We have not taken any decision on industrial action. Though we oppose disinvestment in principal, we can still go along with the government's plans provided the funds raised through disinvestment is utilised for the public sector," R A Mittal, secretary of Hind Majdoor Sabha told Business Standard.

On its part, the Intuc has made it clear that it regards disinvestment as part of the overall process of revival in the public sector.

The Central issue in the economy is creation of additional jobs instead of blocking the process of industrial revival for the sake of protecting a smaller number of existing jobs, Intuc sources said.

At the moment, Citu's main focus is to ensure wholehearted support of all central unions to its call for bandh in all industrial units in West Bengal on January 3.

Citu also plans to organise a similar bandh on that day in Kerala and Tripura and demonstrations in public sector undertakings across the country.

Citu has claimed the support of all Central unions including Intuc to the programme for West Bengal bandh.

But the Central committee of Intuc is opposed to its West Bengal unit supporting the call for bandh.

"Citu is using the bandh to build up a political atmostphere in favour of the Communist Partyof India (Marxist) government in the state at a time when a home ministry team is slated to visit the state to assess the law and order situation. How can we support such a move ?" an Intuc source in said.

Citu sources, however, maintained that it has obtained the support of all central unions including Hind Majdoor Sabha and Intuc for the bandh.

"The West Bengal unit of Intuc has always supported our pro-labour moves and will do so this time as well," a Citu source said.