Bid to gain control of trade unions could delay Haldia’s Supermax project

15-Sep-09

The bid to gain control of the trade unions might delay the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited's (HPL) efforts to expand its ethylene capacity under the Supermax Project which is already running behind schedule. The Trinamool Congress is leading belligerent trade unions, resulting in massive loss of mandays. After CPM lost the Tamluk seat, a majority of workers deserted CPM's labour arm CITU to join Trinamool's union INTTUC. The reason seems to be more political than economic as is apparent from the incident when CITU supporters gheraoed HPL management officials for over 10 hours on Friday demanding inclusion in the Viswakarma Puja committee, where the Trinamool has a majority. Plant shutdown scheduled from October 15 for making Project Supermax operational is likely to be deferred following the rift.