At long last, the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) management gave recognition to the Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS), affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) on Monday.
Source said RSP ED (P&A) PK Satpathy in presence of other RSP officers handed over the recognition letter to RSS general secretary Prashanta Behera in presence of other union leaders of RSS and Gangpur Mazdoor Manch (GMM). It may be noted here that this time both RSS and GMM had contested election jointly in the symbol of RSS.
After getting the recognition letter, Bal said it is the victory of the RSP workers and his union will work for the development of the workers to fulfil their expectations.
It may be noted further here that despite getting a landslide victory in the recognition election held on November 15, 2021, the RSS was not given recognition by the RSP management until the Orissa High Court had put restriction on result declaration as two trade unions, Ispat Labour Union (ILU) and Kalinga Ispat Shramik Sangh (KISS) had challenged the election procedure in the court.
While the petitioner of KISS is no more, on the other hand the petitioner of ILU NK Mohany withdrew his petition on March 7, 2022. Consequently, the High Court had cleared the case on March 7, 2022 against the appellants and allowed the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) to declare the result.
The RSP has accorded recognition to RSS for next two years.
It is also to be noted here that while RSS- GMM combine has got 5,242 votes, the Rourkela Ispat Karakhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS), an affiliated wing of BMS, got 3,859 votes. The Rourkela Mazdoor Sangh (RMS), an affiliated wing of HMS, got 677 votes, while the Steel Employees Trade Union (SETU), an affiliated wing of CITU, got 272 votes. Other seven unions got total 326 votes.
This time though 15 unions have filled nominations but four withdrew later extending support to other unions and finally 11 unions (Aam Mazdoor Sangathan, RIKKS, Hindustan Steel Workers’ Association, Louha Mazdoor Union, North Orissa Workers’ Union, Rourkela Ispat Karmachari Sangha, RMS, RSS, Rourkela Steel Mazdoor Union, Rourkela Workers Union and SETU) were in the fray.