Trade unions forum calls for Bharat Bandh against govt policies tomorrow
Over 25 crore workers – from sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal services to coal mining – are expected to participate in a nationwide general strike on Wednesday.
The strike, called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions, has been described as a ‘Bharat Bandh’ to protest against what the unions label as “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-national pro-corporate policies” of the central government.
The trade unions have issued a call to “make the nationwide general strike a grand success,” citing months of intensive preparations across formal and informal sectors. “More than 25 crore workers are expected to take part in the strike. Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country,” Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told news agency PTI.
The widespread action is likely to severely impact key public services and industries. “Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be affected due to the strike,” added Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
At the heart of the unrest is a charter of 17 demands submitted by the unions to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year.
The unions claim the government has ignored these demands and failed to convene the annual labour conference for the past decade – a move they say reflects the government’s apathy toward the labour force.