The Steel Workers Federation of India (SWFI-CITU) has condemned the suspension of two union leaders at the Durgapur Steel Plant in West Bengal. The leaders, Com Simanta Chatterjee of the Hindustan Steel Employees Union and Sukanta Rakshit of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, were suspended on October 13, 2023, for spearheading a protest movement by seven unions over demands for bonus, pending issues of the National Joint Committee on Steel (NJCS), and the unilateral implementation of the RFID attendance system.
In a statement issued on October 14, 2023, SWFI/CITU General Secretary Lalitmohan Misra termed the suspensions as "autocratic" and "vindictive". He said that the management's action was aimed at suppressing the legitimate demands of the workers and breaking the unity of the trade union movement.
Misra called upon all units of SWFI/CITU to hold massive demonstrations on October 16, 2023, to condemn the suspensions and demand their immediate revocation. He also urged the workers to unite and intensify their struggle to achieve their demands.
The SWFI/CITU is a national federation of trade unions representing workers in the steel industry. It is affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), one of the largest trade union centres in the country.
