MUMBAI: Expelled Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday founded a new trade union with former Sainiks. He said workers were under a renewed threat after globalisation and many trade unions were not really working for the benefit of people.

Mr. Rane, who is the chief adviser to the new union, Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatan, said it would shortly be affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress.

Srikant Sarmalkar, a former Shiv Sena member has been appointed president, while Jaywant Parab is the general secretary.

Mr. Parab was formerly general secretary of the Shiv Sena trade union, Bharatiya Kamgar Sena.

Mr. Rane said the conditions of employment had changed with many working on contract, what with different types of jobs and industries coming up. In Mumbai call centres employed about 50,000 people, who worked for 12 hours but got no basic facilities.

Many workers were still unorganised and it would be a challenge to organise them. It would be one of the tasks of the new union, he said.

The first step would be to gain workers' confidence.

Mr. Rane said many Sena trade union units were approaching him.

The Sanghatan would soon take over many of the units in the city.

Will give fitting reply

Referring to last week's speech by Sena leader Bal Thackeray personally attacking him, Mr. Rane said he would give a fitting rebuttal at a public meeting to be held either in Mumbai or Dombivli.

After that speech he lost all respect for Mr. Thackeray.

Mr. Rane said many Sainiks were leaving the party to join the Congress.

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