Employees and unions successfully hold back Visakhapatnam Steel Plant privatisation for two years

This has become possible as they have brushed aside their rivalries and joined hands under one banner by forming VUPPC

It has been two years since Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed hundred percent strategic sale of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).

But nothing concrete has been made so far in that direction, and there is no clarity on the bidders either.

Full credit for this has to be given to the employees and unions of the only shore-based integrated public sector steel plant in the country, who have been opposing the sale tooth and nail.

Most of the employees opine that that has become possible only because of their unity both inside and outside the plant.

In a rare case of solidarity and cooperation among the various unions — as many as 23 registered unions, employees, eight contract labour unions, officers’ association, and SC, ST and BC associations — have come under one roof to protect the public sector status of the plant under the banner of Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (VUPPC).

“We have brushed aside all rivalries between the trade unions and joined hands under one banner. Even the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a labour union affiliated to the BJP, is also with us. And that is why we have been able to stall the strategic sale move of the Union Government,” says Ch. Narasinga Rao, a chairman for the VUPPC.

Formed days after the Union government’s announcement, the VUPPC has been able to prevent the members of committees such as the Legal Advisory Committee from entering the plant.