First IT employees union launched

Kolkata, Nov 14 (UNI) In what could have far reaching consequences, an employees union in the Information Technology sector was launched for the first time in the country here today.

The formal announcement of the launch of West Bengal Information Technology Services Association (WBITS), the CITU-affiliated new entity, was made at a function at Salt Lake sector five, the state's IT hub.

While CPI(M) MP Amitabha Nandy had been named as president, CITU state committee president Shyamal Chakraborty was the advisor of WBITS.

A website of the association was also launched at the programme, attended among others, by state Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty.

The formation of WBITS, which had already created ripples in the state, especially among employers in the IT sector, who held a meeting among themselves last week to discuss strategies in the event of any strike in the 24-hour service sector.

IT big names, including Wipro, Congnizant, Tata Consultancy, IBM and Globsyn, have their units in sector five.

The issue also triggered a debate within the CPI(M) even though Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee appeared firm in protecting this sunrise sector in the state against any ceasework.

Throwing his weight behind the Chief Minister, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu said the industry should be treated at par with the essential services and if at all IT employees wanted to resort to strike, they would have to abide by the rules of Essential Services laws.

His comment was diametrically opposite to what his protege and Transport Minister Subhash Chakraborty and CITU leaders had said earlier defending the right to strike in the sector.

The debate over the propriety of holding strike in IT sector received momentum in view of the proposed Left-sponsored nationwide strike on December 14.

While the Chief Minister had asserted that measures similar to that initiated during the last month's Trinamool-sponsored bandh would be taken on December 14, CITU leaders remained non-committal, saying a decision whether IT would be brought under the purview of the strike would be taken on December 12.

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