The Hindu 28.05.2013
KWA plans labour union referendum
Nearly 30 years after the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) was set up, it will have its first referendum for labour unions in the utility.
Unions which garner at least 15 per cent of votes only will be considered recognised unions. The District Labour Officer on Saturday issued the notification for the referendum, which will be held on June 26 in KWA offices across the State.
According to KWA officials, as of now, though there were over 20 unions among the employees of the KWA, only four unions that meet the eligibility criteria of the Labour Department would be able to participate in the referendum — AITUC, INTUC, CITU, and UTUC.
Though a confederation of a few other unions that was formed recently approached the KWA asking to be part of the referendum, it is said that the confederation might not be able to do so since it had not completed the mandatory six months of existence before the referendum. A final word on this would be known by next week.
Meanwhile, as per the notification issued by District Labour Officer P. Sugathan on Saturday, the draft voters’ list would have to be published by Monday and complaints on the same would be accepted till June 3. These would be settled by June 5 and the final list would have to be published on June 7. Nominations will be received on June 10, with the scrutiny of the nominations on June 11. The voting would be held at KWA offices across the State on June 25, with the results to be declared after 6.30 p.m. the same day.
The voting will be held at KWA offices across the State on June 25.
