CITU mulls 72-hour hartals

All set to go are the days of a single-day hartal under the aegis of the Left trade unions in the country on a given issue. If the plans of CPM-affiliated CITU materialises, public strikes, which often translates into a hartal or bandh will be at a continuous stretch up to a minimum 72 hours.


The CPM, which wants to give such a duration and elicit the desired impact on a given cause, has given the nod for testing the waters by the TUs, even when it is clear that masses will have to bear the brunt of the move, especially in the three states including Kerala where the party is consolidated.


The CITU has convened a meeting of 11 trade unions with Leftist moorings in New Delhi on September 14 to discuss the scope of ‘changing the face and character of trade union stirs’.


Disclosing this at a meeting here on Sunday, CITU state secretary M M Lawrence said though workers are poised to lose their wages for three days, those owning and managing industries would feel the pinch more and eventually yield to the demands.


CITU national president A K Padmanabhan reported the proposal to the CPM leadership. The party discussed the matter in detail and gave its nod for implementation at the TU level.