CPM treads middle path on IT strikes

The party may decide to exempt some 'essential' services from shutdowns.

The CPI(M) is coming around to taking a middle path on the issue of strikes in the IT/ITes sector.

While senior party leaders still want trade unions in the sector, they are open to discussion on identifying some services as "essential" and so exempted from shutdown during strikes.

"Information technology is not a homogeneous unit. Why should hardware be treated as an essential service? What makes computer repairs an essential service?" CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told Business Standard. He did not specify which services could be labelled essential.

Former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu had last week sought a discussion on giving the sector the status of essential services so that it could be exempted from strikes. Asked if BPOs can be considered an essential service, Yechury said, "It has to be decided by the respective states."

The CPI(M) is preparing a "comprehensive document" that will delineate the party's line on the issue. Last September, following disruption of work in IT/ITes units, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had assured industry captains that the sector would not be affected by strikes in the future.

The party leadership had then set some norms for the sector, asserting the right of employees to form trade unions and do collective bargaining. It had also decided to prepare a paper on the party's stand on the issue.

With the Left-backed trade unions deciding to involve the IT/ITes in their general strike on December 14, there was confusion whether Bhattacharjee had the support of the central leadership.