Veteran trade union leader and founder of the Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS) MDN Panicker (78) passed away in his home State Kerala on Thursday at the Maa Amrutamayee Hospital, where he was under treatment for his prolonged ailment.
Panicker, who had started his career as a worker in the Rourkela Steel Plant, turned to a labour leader in the 1980s fighting for the cause of workers. Due to his legal fight, more than 4,500 contract workers were regularised in the RSP and since then he was in limelight.
In the only works committee election through secret ballot held in 1989 in the RSP his organisation swept with all the ten seats. Thereafter, he and his organisation never looked back. The RSS, which was affiliated to the INTUC, won in a row the RSP recognition elections in 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007 through secret ballots.
It may be noted here that the first recognition election was held through secret ballot in 1995. As an internal fight in the RSS became acute, Panicker decided not to take active part in the 2014 October recognition and extended support to the Rourkela Ispat Karakhana Karmachari Sangh (RIIKS) affiliated to the BMS, and the RIKKS won with 7,329 votes out of a total 14,194.
The demise of Panicker is a great loss to the trade union movement, feel many. Though his supporters are keen to bring his body to Rourkela, his will stating that his body should be handed over to the AIIMS may be an obstacle in this regard. Source said the AIIMS authorities have agreed to allow two hours to see his body in Kerala only. His wife DS Panicker was beside his deathbed.