Dec 14 strike to cover IT in West Bengal

Kolkata, Dec 12: Taking a stand that contradicted Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's investment policy, CITU in West Bengal today announced to observe a 24-hour strike in the state's IT sector along with other areas on December 14 as part of the nationwide programme of the National Platform of Mass Organisations(NPMO).

CITU state President Shyamal Chakraborty said the organisation would strive to make the strike total, but no force would be used for its success.

Hospitals, water and electricity supply, media and medicine shops were among the seven listed essential services exempted from under the purview of the strike.

''We have not exempted IT from the strike, because it is not an essential service. In West Bengal it is only a utility service and not listed as one of the essential services,'' Mr Chakaraborty told reporters.

In reply to a question, the CITU President said whether services would remain uninterrupted in the state's IT industry on the day of the strike would depend on the employees and employers.

''We are not mentioning anything separately for any particular industry. The strike has been called everywhere, except in the essential service areas in support of a 16-point charter of demands.

The strike has been called by NPMO, a platform of 56 different organisations, including seven Central Trade Unions in protest against the 'anti-people' steps of the UPA Govgernment at the centre.

UNI