CITU’s one-day bandh leaves IT majors counting staff

On the day West Bengal IT Minister Manabendra Mukherjee wooed top firms in Mumbai to invest in his state, infotech and BPO majors in Kolkata...

On the day West Bengal IT Minister Manabendra Mukherjee wooed top firms in Mumbai to invest in his state, infotech and BPO majors in Kolkata were left in the lurch by the one-day bandh called by the ruling Left’s labour union.

With public transport off the roads after the CITU called for a shutdown to protest the fuel price hike, some of the top firms—Wipro, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Acclaris and Vishnu Solutions—were hit by low staff attendance.

Wipro, which runs the largest BPO unit in Kolkata, termed the strike as one that did not serve any purpose, ‘‘least of all enhance the state’s image as a friendly IT destination’’.

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Cognizant Technology reported an attendance rate of 40-45% from 1,700 employees. ‘‘It was a wrong message sent to probable investors,’’ said Siddhartha Mukherjee, vice-president, Cognizant.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which has 4000-plus employees here, has asked those who could not make it today to work on Saturday.

Said Ajoyendra Mukherjee of TCS: “Our operation was not affected but it would not be a comfortable situation if it happens frequently.”

For Kalyan Kar, MD, Acclaris, it was an uncomfortable situation as his US based vice-president is visiting the city.

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