Trade unionism at IIT Kharagpur

I got this link on iit kgp group at our college.
Well this was something one could expect to happen at place like KGP. few things immediately came to my mind

1. A folklore (true) about Russy Mody of tata steel when he was chairman of BOG during 70s at the height of militant trade unionism in Bengal. Once unions decdie to strike on pay hike and all messes were closed. There were no billus,veggis or chillis in those old days so actually students were held at ransom. But Russy Mody was from same community as Sam maneckshaw so I imagine he would have also said "Gentlemen, now there would be no withdrawals".
On a serious note he sent all students except final year to their home because they had to pass out and get degree.For them food used to come from TISCO jamshedpur in two trucks with an armed escort. This went on for three months till strike broke and as per settlement new private restaurants were opened in campus to prevent any future blackmail by unions.


2. But unions are very powerful in Bengal. Each hostel for a strength of 250 students used to have some 30 odd mess workers on roll. People aging from 18 yrs ( in lieu of their father) to 80 yrs ( yes with false age) used to be on the rolls.They will refuse to keep their bags out of working place( so there was huge pilferage of food). We used to have mess duty for two students every day who will ensure that stores is not misused.

3. Local suppliers would usually be hand in gloves with mess managers. One of the mangers when i was in final year was actually a hotel management graduate but being son of a kharagpur local he came back. All these people were in hand in gloves and if student body will blacklist a firm for supplying inferior rice or wheat they will rename the firm. No outside firms would be allowed to supply material .

4. When there wa labor day or if staff decided to hold a meeting about Iraq or Terrorism ( there were 500 so in main building + 15-20 per department , 30 departments) then students can't have a function in auditorium. Theater will show only Bengali movies on Sunday.

5. To cap it all construction workers of new hostel had to be absorbed as mess workers. So obviously food used to be of very poor quality. I can make better chapatis then what my used to be made in my mess. Despite having shift duties there would be a weekly off on Saturday evening not to mention almost 3.5 month holiday in a year.


6. One of my Bengali friend once told me that in Bengal except IIT and IIM all colleges (including prudish Jadavpur) suffer from strikes of either students, or faculty or staff. But this news item shows that even IIT is not immune to it now.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080722/jsp/bengal/story_9583770.jsp

Unions in IIT food mess
OUR BUREAU

July 21: Over 250 IIT Kharagpur students had to go without lunch at their hostel to- day as a contractor downed mess shutters after Citu and Aituc union supporters bashed up some of its employees.

Although students of only one of the 19 halls were denied lunch at their mess, they were not the only ones suffering. Agitation by two unions controlled by a joint forum of the CPM and CPI labour arms, demanding absorption of contract workers and those engaged for construction of new hostels, has crippled mess operations in three halls.

The Jagadish Chandra Bose hall residents were the worst hit, having to eat at canteens on the campus on the first day after summer vacation. The Meghnad Saha and Homi Jahangir Bhaba messes shut down after 2pm.

Two others worked normally as they had absorbed all workers.

“We had engaged private caterers to run the mess at five halls. They were ready to absorb the existing workers. But another group, temporarily engaged for construction work, is also demanding absorption,” said an IIT official.

There are about 150 mess workers in the five halls.

Sudip De, a PhD student staying in the JC Bose hall, said the mess had been closed for two months because of the vacation. “Some of us, who did not go home, travelled 4km every day for meals. We had thought our travails would end today,” said De.

The contractor for the JC Bose hall, Sudarshan Behera, said: “We had agreed to absorb some members of the Hall Workers’ Union. However, the construction workers’ body demanded the inclusion of their members, too. We can’t accommodate so many.”

He closed the mess after some of his employees were allegedly attacked.

“We demand the inclusion of the construction labourers since they are rightful claimants to the jobs,” said Purnendu Panigrahi of the construction labourers’ union.

While negotiations are on between the authorities and the unions, the students of the three affected hostels will be accommodated in other halls. “We are trying to restore normality at the earliest. But for the time being, we have asked all students to have their meals at the two hostels that are operating,” said D.K. Tripathi, the dean of students’ affairs.