Pembilai Orumai' shakes trade unionism
The historic 'Pembilai Orumai' that brought Munnar to a standstill for nine days has also sown the seeds of change in the trade union movement of Kerala. Major trade unions - affiliates of CPM, CPI and Indian National Congress - are now in introspection mode with INTUC state executive meeting in Alappuzha...to discuss the Munnar agitation and CITU planning similar discussions at the state and national councils....There were larger issues that were not noticed by the public. The new economic regime had tweaked all labour laws to favour corporates. Government control over managements too had weakened. It became tough for trade unions to get a judicious demand accepted by authorities," said CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran who had been heading the AITUC in Kerala for several years.