With notification issued for the largest industrial trade union elections in Andhra Pradesh, the major contenders have started drawing their strategies to take part in the recognised union polls for the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited on February 5.
Uncertainty continues as the unions are yet to finalise alliance partners fuelling speculation on ifs and buts. RINL has 23 registered unions. As per the election schedule, the last date for filing nominations is January 25. Scrutiny will be conducted on January 28. Symbols will be allotted on January 30. The counting will be taken up immediately after the elections.
Being held after a gap of three years, the Centre’s decision to offload 10% of its equity in the navratna company and delay in allotment of captive mines will figure prominently during the electioneering. The delay in initiating wage revision talks due from January 1, 2017 will also be a key issue.
In all, 11,585 permanent employees will vote. INTUC-affiliated Visakha Steel Employees’ Congress was the recognised union in the elections held in 2015. VSEC general secretary Mantri Rajasekhar said their main success was their stiff opposition to disinvestment and getting sanction of 20% increase in HRA.
However, Padi Trinadha Rao, honorary president of Visakha Steel Employees’ Union, who contested along with INTUC in 2015, has decided to align with CITU with the allegation that the recognised union had failed in fulfilling most of the promises.
CITU, which had the record of contesting alone as well as in alliance with AITUC, is yet to decide on alliance. “As on today, we wanted to go alone,” said CITU leader J. Ayodhyaram.
After INTUC and CITU, YSR Congress Trade Union also has good following but sources said the union is divided into two groups. TNTUC, which is also active, has not yet decided on alliances.
