West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee calls for harmonious relation between managements-trade unions

BARJORA: Taking note of the recent incidents of management-trade union face-off in West Bengal which dampened investor interest, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today called for a harmonious relationship between the two entities.

"Those who give leadership to (trade) unions should always cooperate with the managements. The gates of factories should never be closed. Not a single manday should be lost because of shutdowns and strikes," Banerjee said.

She was speaking at the inauguration of a new facility of an industrial group at Barjora in Bankura district which will manufacture Dielectric (Capacitor) Film.

"We do not support "Dharmaghat" (strikes)," Banerjee declared.

Obliquely referring to the previous Left Front government, Banerjee said, "We were disturbed and perturbed by the destructive and negative role the strikes played in Bengal for a long time."

"When we came to power, there were a staggering 78 lakh mandays lost in Bengal (during the Left regime). They gradually began dropping from the first year itself till it came to zero now. I am proud that there is no manday lost now," she said

A few days back the ruling party suspended three of its leaders, including Aloke Das in Asansol, after the management of Shyam SEL complained to the police that the trio had threatened company officials.

Recently the state had witnessed a number of factory closures for non-labour related reasons. Prominent among them included the Jessop and Co, Hindustan Motors at Uttarpara and Shalimar paints in Howrah.

On June 15 workers at North Brook jute mill in Bhadreswar in Hooghly district had beaten the CEO of the company to death following a dispute over working hours. The company reopened soon after, though.

Recently the Eastern Coalfield Limited authorities threatened to close down one of its mines in Asansol after a Trinamool Congress labour leader allegedly threatened one of the mine officials.