-The Hindu To protest the fallout of liberalisation policy In an unprecedented show of unity, all trade unions in the country have come together on the same platform and given a call for a general strike on February 28. This is the first time since Independence that trade unions, cutting across ideological and political affiliations, have joined hands to register their protest on a wide range of issues arising out of the liberalisation...

-The Telegraph Calcutta High Court today passed an interim order restraining the Bengal government from de-recognising police associations and evicting them from their offices across the state. The bench stayed the government decision till February 9, when it asked the state home department to appear with documents related to the de-recognition order. “The court wants to see the papers to ascertain what law had empowered the state to cancel the recognition of police...

Opposing the West Bengal government's proposal to do away with the right to strike of its employees, major Central trade unions have decided to support the government employees' unions in their agitation for protection of their rights. Describing the comments of State Labour Minister Purnendu Basu as unfortunate, Gurudas Dasgupta, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and MP of the Communist party of India (CPI), said the right...

-The Times of India   It will be illegal for government employees in the state to go on strike or hold rallies if chief minister Mamata Banerjee has her way.  In a decision that has sent ripples down both camps, the government wants to take away the employees ' right to association, leave aside strike, that the Left Front government had bestowed upon them.  The bold step - once approved by the Cabinet -...

-The Indian Express   The West Bengal government announced Tuesday that it had decided to withdraw the trade union rights of its employees. The announcement, made at the secretariat by the labour minister, triggered outrage among state government staff. Minister Purnendu Bose said the government would withdraw a clause in the service rules, introduced by the LF government in 1981, giving full trade union rights to state government staff. Withdrawal of the amendment will...