The keen contest for February 14 elections for the recognised union of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the largest industry in Andhra Pradesh, has thrown up strange equations.
The AITUC, and CITU are contesting in alliance with the AICTU, Janshakti Mazdoor Sabha, Hind Mazdoor Sabha and five other unions under the banner of Progressive Front, Visakha Steel Employees’ Congress (INTUC) is in fray in alliance with DITU. Breakaway INTUC group led by Padhi Trinadha Rao retired from fray and pledged support to INTUC.
In another development, TNTUC, the TU wing of Telugu Desam Party has opted out of race and declared support to INTUC panel. The decision was taken after Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Anakapalle MP M. Srinivasa Rao held consultations with their supporters on Tuesday. YSRCP’s trade union wing is in fray for the first time.
“Parties will not have any sway in the largest trade union elections in the State as almost all the employees are educated. They will only cast their franchise on the basis of performance of the trade unions,” Progressive Front honorary president Ch. Narsinga Rao said.
Over 12,000 non-executives will vote in the elections being held under the supervision of Central Labour Department officials. Campaigning has hit feverish pitch. The term of Progressive Front, which was the recognised union for two terms expired on April 27, 2014.
All the unions have agreement on one point – putting up stiff resistance to offload equity in RINL, the corporate entity of VSP. “It was our government at the Centre which went slow on disinvestment and now we will exert pressure on Modi Government to drop it for good,” said INTUC district president Mantri Rajasekhar.
The Left unions, which are chanting unity mantra, claim that they were instrumental in stalling disinvestment when Congress-led UPA was in power. Besides privatisation threat, the candidates are also promising to exert pressure on the management to pay remaining 50 per cent of wage revision arrears, 20 per HRA on revised basic and removal of ceiling on payment of gratuity.
