AI workers tilt towards Trinamool

Kolkata: Union members of the erstwhile Indian Airlines (IA), who have always banked on the Left to lead their movements, are now banking on the Trinamool Congress in their fight against delayed salaries and pay cuts.
"In 2007, CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta was instrumental in our fight for employees' demands after AI's merger with Indian. Even CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury were part of the movement," said a senior leader of the Air Corporation Employees' Union (ACEU).
But after the Lok Sabha polls, ACEU knocked on Trinamool-backed MP Somen Mitra's door. With Mitra promising support, Union ministers Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy are ready to raise ACEU's demands with the Centre. ACEU has even written to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, who immediately promised help.
"With Congress at the helm and Trinamool its largest ally, we hope Trinamool leaders will fulfil their promise," said an AI official. If everything goes right, Saugata Roy and Sudip Bandyopadhyay will have ACEU's movement on their agenda.
Veteran ACEU members apprehend that Left leaders want to set up anchor wherever they initiate a movement. Being an apolitical union, that's not possible for ACEU. Hence, the shift.
"A Left leader mumbled about our demands to one of our executive directors but ended the conversation asking for bottles of packaged drinking water to be served on board," said an ACEU leader.
28/06/09 Arpit Basu/Times of India

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Categories: NACIL Jun 2009