Central trade unions are on a nationwide strike today to protest against various policies of the central government, from privatizations of public sector banks to new labour and farm laws. An estimated 25 crore workers are participating in the day-long strike called by ten central trade unions. The strike has begun. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are completely shut down. A similar situation is also developing in Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, and Goa. There is also a good response to the strike in Maharashtra. The strike is to protest against the new farm and labour laws, among others, as well as to raise various demands.
Scheme workers, domestic workers, construction workers, beedi workers, hawkers, vendors, agricultural workers, self-employed in rural and urban areas have also decided to come on to the streets for ‘Chakka Jam’. In many states, auto and taxi drivers have also decided to keep off the roads. The federations of railway and defense employees have decided to have large mobilization on the day to express their solidarity with the strike and the demands of the unions.Â
The 10 central unions include Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) and Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). Others are All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).
WHAT ARE THERE DEMANDS?
- Unions have asked the Centre to provide 200 days’ work in a year at enhanced wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.
- Withdrawal of anti-farmer and anti-worker labour codes.
- Scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS).
- Restoration of the earlier pension scheme with improvement in EPS-95
- They are also standing in solidarity with the farmers’ protest that has been gathering attention over the past few months.
BANKING SECTOR ALSO JOINED STRIKE
Banking operations across the country were impacted on Thursday with some bank unions joining the nationwide strike. Many lenders, including IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) are participating in the strike. The association represents the majority of the banks, except State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Overseas Bank. It has four lakh bank employees from various public and old private sectors
THE STRIKE AFFECT (NATIONWIDE)
steel plant is affected due to the strike. Besides, the majority of workers in coal mines are also on strike. The work at copper plants, port and dock area are also affected. Delhi industrial areas are closed down, In many states, auto and taxi drivers have decided to keep off the roads. The federations of railway and defence employees have decided to have large mobilisation on Thursday to express solidarity with the striking workers.
Workers in the unorganised sector such as domestic workers, construction workers, beedi workers, hawkers, vendors, agricultural workers, self-employed in rural and urban areas have also decided to come on to the streets for ‘chakka jam’
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