Though five months late, the Central labour Commissioner’s initiative to hold the trade union recognition election of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has made steel workers happy.
The commissioner has written a letter to this effect to the RSP authorities following a direction issued by the Odisha High Court on February 14.
Accordingly, the RSP authority has issued notice to fourteen trade unions seeking them to submit details of their registration numbers, details about their parent bodies’ including names and addresses of presidents and secretaries, copy of by-laws and membership lists in the office of the Deputy Chief labour Commissioner.
Further process will be initiated after the labour Commissioner holds meeting with all the union representatives. It is noted here that the tenure of the last RSP recognition election was completed in November 2013. While the authorities did not hold fresh election, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMC)-affiliated Rourkela Ispat Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) urged the Deputy Chief labour Commissioner on December 16 to hold the election early. As the request failed, the RIKKS then sought help of the Odisha High Court.
The concerned trade unions have expressed happiness on the initiative. The BMS has exuded hope that this time the RSP workers would be able to place their judicious views through secret ballot against the frequent delay of reaching a wage pact by the National Joint Council for Steels (NJCS) and anti-labour practices of certain trade unions.