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CPM makes moves against Wal-Mart
By siliconindia
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Wednesday, 06 December 2006, 18:30 IST
Kolkata: Citu, the trade union arm of CPM, is in âexploratoryâ talks with the American Federation of Labour (AFL) for a unique collaboration indicating a growing fondness among political parties and trade unions to seek tie-ups with their counterparts abroad.
Carl Leinonen will represent AFL at the meet. AFL was one of the first federations of labor unions in the US. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by Samuel Gompers as a reorganization of its predecessor, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions.
Citu has sought AFL's cooperation in planning and implementing a countrywide campaign against Wal-Mart's move to establish a presence in India's nascent organized retail sector. Citu president MK Pandhey told ET from New Delhi, âAFL delegates will attend our national conference in New Delhi in January 2007. They will make presentations highlighting instances of Wal-Mart's anti-employee stance across its retail chain in the US."
This is the first time that Citu will be collaborating with a US trade union. âAFL's experience with Wal-Mart's functioning in the US will help us mobilize public opinion against the latter in our country,â said Pandhey.
Wal-Mart, the $316-billion US retail giant, recently announced plans to enter into Indiaâs large untapped retail segment, with an Indian partner for its front-end retail operations. It plans to partner with the Bharti group to establish a cash-and-carry business, interpreted, by those opposing FDI in retail, as a back door entry.
The CPM has decided to oppose Wal-Mart's entry into India and has instructed Citu to prepare to launch a countrywide campaign against the retailer. Cituâs eight-day national conference will begin in Delhi on January 17, 2007.
âCitu will chalk out plans to counter moves by several MNCs to enter the Indian retail sector. We oppose FDI in retail, especially in agriculture, as it will hamper the prospects of our farmers,â the Citu president said. He added that plans to combat Wal-Mart's strategy are to be finalized during the conference with AFL's support.