Kolkata: Sharp differences cropped up among the Left trade unions over the state-wide transport strike on July 31 with CPI`s labour arm AITUC and RSP`s UTUC not supporting the CPI(M)-backed trade union CITU`s call for it to protest the recent fuel price hike.
The split in the major Left Trade unions came amid the government and Centre of Indian Trade Unions face-off over the 24-hour strike that threatens to paralyse West Bengal.
"We will not support this strike call given by CITU without trying to evolve a consensus by consulting the other Left trade union bodies. This will hamper the atmosphere of Left unity in the state," All India Trade Union Congress state general secretary Ranjit Kundu told reporters here.
"No discussions were held unlike in earlier occasions. We could have been contacted even over phone before CITU announced the strike. A trade union movement cannot be run this way...Morever 14 days notice is required for giving a strike call," he said.
AITUC would not, however, take to the streets to oppose the strike, he said.
United Trade Union Congress state secretary Ashok Ghosh said it would not support the strike as the decision for it was taken unilaterally by CITU.
CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty had announced on Thursday that all commercial vehicles, including state buses, taxis, trucks and autorickshaws will observe a strike on July 31 in protest against the fuel price hike.
Meanwhile, transport operators today deferred the proposed strikes - a move which was welcomed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
PTI
