April 7: Haldia Petrochemicals today hinted at partially conceding Citu’s demand to absorb 183 workers but the trade union formally placed another condition that will have wider ramifications if accepted.

The CPM’s labour arm today placed before the management a demand for making permanent 600 casual workers whose land was acquired for Haldia Petrochemicals, Bengal’s showcase project.

Political as well as industry sources said the demand appeared to a be pressure tactic to compel the company to fully accept the earlier demand. However, they added that if the labour union presses ahead with such a campaign, similar demands could be raised in other industrial projects and open a Pandora’s box.

The Haldia Petro management today conceded that some of the 183 workers “would have to be made permanent” even if it was not possible to absorb all of them after a meeting with union leaders.

“The HPL management assured us today that some of the 183 workers would be taken on the company roster,” said Ashok Patnaik, the vice-president of the employees’ union at HPL.

Citu had earlier threatened to call a 24-hour strike in Haldia Petro on April 8 to press the demand for permanent employment to the 183 casual employees.

“At the meeting, we also demanded that 600 workers whose land was acquired for petrochemicals be provided permanent jobs. If necessary, they can be provided training to make them competent,” Patnaik said.

The union had been speaking of the demand earlier but this is the first time it has formally raised it.

Contacted tonight, industry minister Nirupam Sen said: “I am not aware of day-to-day developments. They (such reports) do not come to me. If there is issue between the trade union and the management, it has to be sorted out at that level.”

Sen said the government would intervene only when there is a deadlock. “But that situation has not come yet,” he added.