The trade unions participating in today’s strike are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, CITU, AIUTUC, LPF, and UTUC
Protesters holding banners and posters blocked rail tracks in Bengal on Wednesday and raised slogans against the central government as the 24-hour pan-India strike called by ten trade unions began at 6 am. Public Transport services were also affected in parts of Odisha.
The centre’s policies and labour laws have affected 80 crore people, the CITU has said, as they press for fixed minimum wage and equal wage for equal work.
Around 25 crore people will participate in the all-India strike on Wednesday, called by 10 central trade unions. The call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ in January 2020 was given to the press for 14 demands. The trade unions participating in today’s strike are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, CITU, AIUTUC, LPF, and UTUC.
While, in West Bengal, protesters have blocked railway tracks at Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district and in Howrah. Further, they all shouted anti-government slogans and slammed the Center for its policies.
On Tuesday the government had asked public sector undertakings to discourage their employees from participating in the Bharat Bandh. “Any employee going on strike in any form, including agitation would face the outcome which, apart from deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action,” an office memorandum said.
“Appropriate eventuality plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the ministry or department,” it added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to extend support to the strike. However, Tamil Nadu’s Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are backing the strike. According to DMK president MK Stalin, “the BJP-led government at the Centre is focussed on snatching the workers’ rights instead of protecting them”.
The ShivSena has also joined the all-India strike today. In its mouthpiece Saamana, ShivSena said that during the “first regime of BJP government, the industry and labour class was poorly affected due to its decisions like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST).” The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has also extended support to the nationwide strike.
10.50
Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan: State Government supports today's #BharatBandh call of different trade unions, Govt at the Centre is an anti-labour Govt pic.twitter.com/0PO1fJHHfv
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
10.37 AM
Tamil Nadu: Protest underway on Mount road in Chennai. Ten trade unions have called for #BharatBandh today against 'anti-worker policies of Central Govt' pic.twitter.com/ifheq1x66Q
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
10.25 AM
Rahul Gandhi hails trade unions' 'Bharat Bandh' call
Read @ANI Story| https://t.co/7XDCX0Ai0t pic.twitter.com/HZ3712OEav
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 8, 2020
10.22 AM
Mumbai: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited employees protest against Govt decision of strategic disinvestment of Bharat Petroleum pic.twitter.com/njOzme48KC
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
10.20 AM
West Bengal: Protesters also block railway track in Kanchrapara,North 24 Parganas. Ten trade unions have called for #BharatBandh today against 'anti-worker policies of Central Govt' https://t.co/NkSTHTirXv pic.twitter.com/bbTf9Xydhh
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
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