Over 25 crore workers expected to participate in the nationwide strike, demands are pay hike, minimum wage, social security, uniform five-day week
NEW DELHI| On Wednesday, the nationwide protest will happen. Bharat Band is called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Ten central trade unions have preach for a nationwide strike tomorrow.
The reason stated by the against CITU is government’s “disinvestment, privatisation and labour reform policies”. According to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, over 25 crore workers expected to participate in the nationwide strike. “It has been over four years since any Indian Labour conference took place. The last meeting with the Group of Ministers was constituted to discuss a 12 point-charter of demands, took place in August 2015. Since then, nothing has proceeded,” the Centre of Indian Trade Unions said in a release.
Centre of Indian Trade Unions which is also affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI) said, “The government failing to tackle the crises-ridden economy is busy in privatizing and selling Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), natural resources and other national assets which are detrimental to the national interest and national development”.
Details of Bharat Band:
Bharat Band is called on January 8, Wednesday. This will be 24 hours strike which will include morning shift of 6 am. Over 25 crore workers are expected to participate in the band. The demands are the complain they being doing constantly from past fours years include pay hike, fixing of minimum wage, social security, uniform five-day week, among others.
Numbers of Trade union regional and nationalized are participating in Bharat Bandh. It includes 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 Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), Sectoral independent federations and associations will be part of the Bharat Bandh. The sang which will not be part of the band will be BJP-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.
Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to Bharat Bandh. However, services at private sector banks are unlikely to be impacted. Other than banking, transport and other key services are also likely to be disrupted in many states due to this nationwide strike call. The State Bank of India (SBI) said the membership of its bank employees in the unions participating in the January 8 strike is “very few, so the impact of strike on Banks operation will be minimal”.
Also Read: Banking operations partially affected due to trade union strike
The BJP- government has warned central trade unions of “consequences” if they go on a proposed 24-hour nationwide strike. “Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action,” an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel said. In its order, the Ministry said government servants were prohibited from participating in strikes or protests. All the senior officials have also been instructed not to sanction any leave to the government officials and employees.
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