Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Bengal8217;s IT industry broke the barrier today making a somewhat shaky, yet positive, beginning of what could be termed as an anti-strike trend in the state8217;s IT hub of Salt Lake electronics complex. Several electronic units carried out their operations on a day when the rest of the state was paralysed by an industrial strike call given by CITU and other Left trade unions.
And to make things easier for units at the electronics complex, the West Bengal government provided adequate police cover. There were mobile patrols to ensure that workers willing to report for duty at any of these units were not prevented from doing so. There were heavy police pickets in front of the Government8217;s own IT company WEBEL, where eight of the total 32 officers reported for duty.
8216;8216;At least it8217;s a beginning towards a positive development and it is only a matter of time before the state8217;s IT sector gets a more matured understanding from sponsors of bandhs and strikes,8217;8217; said WEBEL MD S.K. Mitra. On Monday, his office had distributed stickers saying 8216;8216;Public Utility Service8217;8217; and the establishment sent across a message that anyone travelling with these stickers should be allowed passage. It worked this morning.
By late afternoon, Mitra could gather that some employees in all companies had reported for work. 8216;8216;It is a mixed picture,8217;8217; said Mitra hoping that 8216;8216;the process that has made a beginning will only improve and not deteriorate8217;8217;. Independent queries also showed that a number of these units were working to meet their deadlines and had enough workforce for duty.
