Jisha Surya
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is gearing up for its first referendum to give recognition to trade unions. The labour department has given a directive to KWA to issue a notification on May 25 in this regard. The referendum is expected to be held on June 25.
The referendum will be held to recognise trade unions in KWA. Though KWA has as many as 26 unions, four major unions -- INTUC, UTUC, AITUC and CITU -- will be eligible to participate in the referendum. The unions which garner 15% votes will be recognised as a trade union in KWA.
As per the direction of water resources minister P J Joseph, the KWA has requested the labour department to postpone the referendum citing the month as crucial for drought mitigation work. “We have urged the labour department to postpone the referendum, as the drought mitigation work may get affected by the campaign. We are yet to receive any response from the labour department,” said KWA MD Ashok Kumar Singh.
Meanwhile, some union representatives have alleged that KWA move to postpone the referendum was to support other existing ineligible unions. “The unions must be at least six months old to take part in the referendum. Some unions have formed a confederation recently. They will be eligible to participate in the election only if they complete six months. The KWA is pressing for postponement to make them eligible for the referendum,” alleged a union member.
A meeting was held on Monday -- attended by KWA MD and union representatives -- to decide on the employees eligible for voting. The KWA management is of the opinion that employees holding the post of first grade craftsman and below in the executive section, and junior superintendent and below in the technical section must be allowed to vote. Some unions are pressing for the inclusion of assistant engineers, division accountants, and senior superintendents in the voters’ list. A final decision will be taken by the labour department.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is gearing up for its first referendum to give recognition to trade unions. The labour department has given a directive to KWA to issue a notification on May 25 in this regard. The referendum is expected to be held on June 25.
The referendum will be held to recognise trade unions in KWA. Though KWA has as many as 26 unions, four major unions -- INTUC, UTUC, AITUC and CITU -- will be eligible to participate in the referendum. The unions which garner 15% votes will be recognised as a trade union in KWA.
As per the direction of water resources minister P J Joseph, the KWA has requested the labour department to postpone the referendum citing the month as crucial for drought mitigation work. “We have urged the labour department to postpone the referendum, as the drought mitigation work may get affected by the campaign. We are yet to receive any response from the labour department,” said KWA MD Ashok Kumar Singh.
Meanwhile, some union representatives have alleged that KWA move to postpone the referendum was to support other existing ineligible unions. “The unions must be at least six months old to take part in the referendum. Some unions have formed a confederation recently. They will be eligible to participate in the election only if they complete six months. The KWA is pressing for postponement to make them eligible for the referendum,” alleged a union member.
A meeting was held on Monday -- attended by KWA MD and union representatives -- to decide on the employees eligible for voting. The KWA management is of the opinion that employees holding the post of first grade craftsman and below in the executive section, and junior superintendent and below in the technical section must be allowed to vote. Some unions are pressing for the inclusion of assistant engineers, division accountants, and senior superintendents in the voters’ list. A final decision will be taken by the labour department.
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