Kolkata Chapter Update: 08 Jan 2015

Kolkata Chapter Update: 08 Jan 2015

FITE Kolkata chapter – gears up the pace.

Members of FITE Kolkata – which consists of not just TCS employees but members of other IT and ITES companies met at City Center – 1, Sector – 1 on 6/1/2015 (Tuesday). During the meeting, TCS employees revealed the way they were expelled from the company. Most victims had “C” grades in their appraisals, some had “B”; some victims had even received client appreciations recently. Employees have been forced to sign the termination letter much against their will. Some of the employees are removed from their projects and made to sit on bench without being offered any projects, leaving them with anticipation and fear of being terminated any moment. Those employees who could not make it to the meeting spoke over the phone and revealed the trauma they faced whenever a phone call comes from their office number. There were emotional moments when an employee was so depressed that he could think of suicide, seeing before him the plight of immediate job loss. FITE pledged that the rights of him as an employee will not be allowed to be confiscated and offered its support in this time of despair. At the end of the meeting, the members decided to meet the Labour Commissioner and seek guidelines on filing a complaint against these illegal layoffs.

On 7/1/2015 (Wednesday), around 11 A.M., a delegation of FITE team went to the Labour Directorate at K.S Roy road and met the Assistant Labour Commissioner and the Labour Commissioner and explained them in detail about the unethical way in which employees of TCS are being expelled from the company and the pain they are going through. The Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mr. Pashupathi Gosh informed us that they are ready to take up individual complaints from each employee and act upon it. When asked if the FITE could complain on behalf of the employees, the Assistant Labour Commissioner noted that it may not be possible since FITE at present is not a registered body (Efforts of making FITE a registered body is already underway). He also mentioned if employees are being forcefully made to resign from the company by blackmailing them, they should approach the police station and launch a complaint on charges of blackmail. Then we approached the Labour Commissioner, who informed us that a single petition expressing the problem of TCS employees, signed by all the affected victims can be submitted to the Labour Directorate and they would then look into the issue.

After collecting all these information, the FITE members at Kolkata went into a huddle and conducted a meeting at Jadavpur University which was informed to members at short notice. During the meeting, various strategies were planned on how we can take the issue forward. Detecting the fact that petitioning the Labour Commissioner alone may not be enough to solve the problem, various activities like campaigns and pamphlets distribution, local demonstrations, same day same time protests of all FITE Chapters functioning across India, legal workshops comprising of noted lawyers, local signature campaign to be submitted to Labour Commissioner are being planned to take the issue to the doorsteps of government.

Seeing the noble intent of FITE – which is to fight for unity and fight against oppression in the IT/ITES sector, imminent personalities have offered their support. Witnessing the participative attitude and the resolute strength of people of Kolkata, especially from the people of IT and ITES, it is evident that justice can be established collectively.
The next meeting is scheduled to be conducted at City Center – 1 on Friday (9/1/2015) to discuss about the plan and the way forward. We request the IT and ITES employees of Kolkata to attend the meeting and prove that we are one family and we will not be a mute spectator when one of our family member is in trouble.