10-26-2005, 01:49 AM
One cannot see such brainwashed public ever in the world
<b>Politburo grapples with strikes vs investment</b>
Kay Benedict
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 00:53 IST
NEW DELHI: Torn between working class and desire for investment, the CPI(M) politburo meeting at New Delhi on Tuesday grappled with the issue of whether or not to allow strikes in the IT sector, and whether it qualified as an essential service.
In the rapidly changing world scenario and economic dynamics, the party appears to be working to find a "middle path".<i>
They want to create problems for the middle class but are afraid of the blowback from the middle class. They are working on a long term divide in the soceity as the middle class is increasing in the country. They do not want to look at the economic potential of the country</i>
Even as differences cropped between supporters of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and hardliners led by CITU president M K Pandhe and general secretary Chittabrata Majumdar, both of whom are politburo members, the meeting discussed various options to tread a middle path.
A predominant view was a slight shift in approach towards trade unionism. It was suggested that instead of "strike", the stress should be on "struggle".
One suggestion was to induct a union representative in the management to keep a tab on decision-making on matters affecting employees. Another suggestion was to exempt a "core sector" within the IT industry from strikes, as in the steel industry, where even when TUs resort to strike, production was not hit. So, even in the event of IT being declared an essential service in future, services will not be hit when workers resort to agitation.
After nearly four hours of discussion, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the "discussion is over, debate is going on." He said, "Wait for tomorrow, there is no differences in the party."
Earlier in the day, asked if the meeting agreed with his views on the IT sector, Buddhadeb, with an air of dejection, said: "This is the Communist Party⦠who can say anything? The debate is going on." Asked if he was marginalised at the meeting, Pandhe, said: "In the end, there are no division." Sources, however, said Bhattacharjee's suggestion of exempting the IT sector from conventional trade unionism met with resistance from hardliners led by Pandhe and Majumdar. Both of them are understood to have said that the party should not compromise on the right of workers to strike.
<b>
"The IT sector, the BPOs, they are playing havoc. They are money-making machines and cannot be treated as essential services,</b>" Pandhe said. The two-day meet, which began on Tuesday, discussed the UPA's electoral prospects in Bihar, organisational matters and party policies and programmes.
The other contentious issue, FDI in retail, in the light of Wal Mart officials' meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, will come up for discussion on Wednesday.
<b>Politburo grapples with strikes vs investment</b>
Kay Benedict
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 00:53 IST
NEW DELHI: Torn between working class and desire for investment, the CPI(M) politburo meeting at New Delhi on Tuesday grappled with the issue of whether or not to allow strikes in the IT sector, and whether it qualified as an essential service.
In the rapidly changing world scenario and economic dynamics, the party appears to be working to find a "middle path".<i>
They want to create problems for the middle class but are afraid of the blowback from the middle class. They are working on a long term divide in the soceity as the middle class is increasing in the country. They do not want to look at the economic potential of the country</i>
Even as differences cropped between supporters of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and hardliners led by CITU president M K Pandhe and general secretary Chittabrata Majumdar, both of whom are politburo members, the meeting discussed various options to tread a middle path.
A predominant view was a slight shift in approach towards trade unionism. It was suggested that instead of "strike", the stress should be on "struggle".
One suggestion was to induct a union representative in the management to keep a tab on decision-making on matters affecting employees. Another suggestion was to exempt a "core sector" within the IT industry from strikes, as in the steel industry, where even when TUs resort to strike, production was not hit. So, even in the event of IT being declared an essential service in future, services will not be hit when workers resort to agitation.
After nearly four hours of discussion, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the "discussion is over, debate is going on." He said, "Wait for tomorrow, there is no differences in the party."
Earlier in the day, asked if the meeting agreed with his views on the IT sector, Buddhadeb, with an air of dejection, said: "This is the Communist Party⦠who can say anything? The debate is going on." Asked if he was marginalised at the meeting, Pandhe, said: "In the end, there are no division." Sources, however, said Bhattacharjee's suggestion of exempting the IT sector from conventional trade unionism met with resistance from hardliners led by Pandhe and Majumdar. Both of them are understood to have said that the party should not compromise on the right of workers to strike.
<b>
"The IT sector, the BPOs, they are playing havoc. They are money-making machines and cannot be treated as essential services,</b>" Pandhe said. The two-day meet, which began on Tuesday, discussed the UPA's electoral prospects in Bihar, organisational matters and party policies and programmes.
The other contentious issue, FDI in retail, in the light of Wal Mart officials' meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, will come up for discussion on Wednesday.