New Delhi:
Major trade unions across the country have called for a 24-hour strike today to protest against "anti-labour" policies of the government. The strike has so far evoked a mixed response with transport services being hit in some parts of the country. Banking services have, however, been affected majorly.
(Live Blog)
Employees of all public sector banks have joined the one-day strike today to oppose the "outsourcing of non-core activities to private sector banks". There are around 87,000 branches of public sector banks across the country and state-owned lenders control 75 per cent of banking business. Operations in private banks are, however, said to be normal.
(Bank employees on one-day strike, normal services hit)DELHI
In the national capital, a number of autos and taxi drivers kept their vehicles off the roads. Poor frequency of state-run buses added to the problems of the commuters. Functioning of public sectors banks was affected. In a bid to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in the city, the state government last night clamped Essential Services Maintenance Act or ESMA on all power companies.
MUMBAI
In Mumbai, the strike had a partial impact. Barring banking and insurance sector, normal life was unaffected in the metropolis with all essential services especially public transport functioning as usual. Auto and taxi unions of the city are not participating in the strike in the wake of ongoing Class 12 examinations. Operations at both the airports in the city are said to be smooth so far. Trade unions are expected to demonstrate at south Mumbai's Azad Maidan later in the day.
KOLKATA
InKolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ensured that state transport busesand trams are plying to facilitate passenger movement. However, according toreports, only a few people have come out of their houses in the wake of thebandh call. Shops,markets and business establishments in some areas of the city are closed. Services at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose InternationalAirport are normal so far.
Yesterday,the Chief Minister had warned workers against going on strike. Today, over a 100 pro-strikesupporters were arrested from different districts of the state for obstructingrail and road traffic.
Ms Banerjee has also slammed theCPI(M) and Left parties for choosing the "politics of bandhs"."Strikes and bandhs are expressions of frustration and it serves onlyvested interests," she said. She also admitted that resorting to bandhsduring her days as opposition leader in the state was a "mistake".
BANGALORE
In Bangalore too, commuters are facing troubles as autos are off the roads.
Yesterday, the government's attempts to avert the strike remained unsuccessful with union leaders rejecting last-minute appeals. They said all 11 major trade unions including Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shiv Sena-backed Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BMS) and UPA ally Indian Union Muslim League's trade-wing STU would join hands to make the strike a success. About 5,000 small unions are also supporting the strike call.
"This a historic occasion as for the first time all the major trade unions irrespective of political affiliations are coming together to protest anti-labour polices of the government," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.
The government had last week appealed to the trade unions to desist from going on strike with Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge saying the government was ready to discuss any kind of labour-related issues.
Rejecting the appeal, Mr Dasgupta said, "We are not ready to consider such a ritualistic statement on the part of the government." He said the government had enough opportunity earlier to sit with the trade unions to discuss the issues.
The trade union are demanding a universal social security net for all unorganised sector workers through creation of a national social security fund, enforcement of basic labour laws and stringent punitive action against violation of labour laws. They are also demanding amendment to the Minimum Wages Act, provision for pensions, abolition of contract-based appointments and for putting an end to the disinvestment process of profit-making Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
(With agencies inputs)