West Bengal Labour Union Still Arrogant and Devious
Posted : March 14, 2009 at 10:14 pm [IST]
Buddha dreams of fast industrialization of West Bengal, and keeps on talking against the militant unionism. But do the CITU, the union affiliated to his party listen to his threats or advices? It is unfortunate but the method used by Bengal union leaders to have their control over the industrial enterprises of the state has been no way different than the one used by rogue politicians in running government administration. An MLA or MP can get into a police station or even in secretariat and made the officers do anything they want. The officers may get assaulted or abused too. Officers in government or the factories are to continuously work under such threats of the unscrupulous union leaders or their men. And still we all call it the democratic process.
I was shocked with the news from Durgapur Steel Plant that appeared in Kolkata newspaper today.
Citu supporters allegedly slapped and pushed around Durgapur Steel Plant managers who protested the din they were creating over the recruitment of labourers.” When the personnel manager asked the agitators not to disturb those at work, some of the protesters walked up to the personal manager and allegedly slapped him. Deputy general manager and assistant general manager were greeted with abuses when they rushed to help the personal manager.
The narration in report reminded me of my days on the shop floor of Hindustan Motors. Similar incidents were daily affairs.
As we are winding up Salt Lake household and packing for moving to Noida, I have a dairy of 1973 in my hand. I never knew I had written in so much detail about the turmoil caused by the same leftist union in Hind Motor car factory that year. I was heading axle plant, a big manufacturing activities involving nearly 600-700 workmen and almost double number of sophisticated machine tools and equipment. While I used to find easily the technical solutions to the problem of increasing productivity, the rogue union representatives were hell bent on not allowing me to get that implemented. The union never tried to be part of the enterprise rather they survived and grew by creating obstacles and rulebook of their own. It was extremely difficult to get any new technology introduced. Highly sophisticated domestic and imported machine tools bought at a lot of cost to improve the productivity as well as quality remained idle for long time. Some never started. New work method or layout and tool design were almost impossible to be put in operation.
I was tough and followed my conscience of honest work for the company that provided me the opportunity to prove my technical knowledge. I did everything to get the new things introduced against the wishes of the union leaders. I became very unpopular among the union leaders though not with my own workmen who had a tremendous respect for my technical knowledge. However, I had to face the brunt of the union anger. Many attempts were made to assault me. Once they succeeded too. Perhaps it was a providential escape otherwise I would have been dead.
As it appears even today, the union is playing the same role in West Bengal at least. Managers might have become milder and may be trained in modern way of management where the workforce employed becomes resource. But for union leaders if the managers don’t agree to whatever silly they demand, they are enemy. Unfortunately, the left union has neither learnt anything new nor changed a bit of their attitude towards the work discipline and ethics. They must get whatever they wish. They must get their men employed, their own men must get more increments, their own men should be promoted first and their men must be marked present even when they are not physically present on work. Their own men must get everywhere preference in whatever the company provides to the workmen in general such as accommodation, or school admission for their children. None of their men can be taken to task even after they commit even major mistakes. No one can be rewarded on basis of pure merit or extraordinary performance too.
I wish someone doing research in labour relations in West Bengal asks for my dairies of those days. I am sure it will provide a lot of material.
This is the scenario in the organized sector. Durgapur Steel Plant is one such plant of SAIL.
And still Ratan Tata agreed to open a plant in West Bengal. Should not Tata be the happiest man today to quit in right time? Should not the industrialists be bold enough to ask for a code of conduct for the union operation before they invest in the state?
Will West Bengal change even if a new government comes after the election 2009?
Perhaps the answer will be a big NO.
- Indra
Category: Industry/Management |
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