Bharat Bandh Live: Strike by 10 trade unions hits banking, transport services; Bengal, Tamil Nadu unaffected

Essential services such as banking and transport have been hit as 10 central trade unions began one-day nationwide strike on Friday, protesting against "anti-worker" changes in labour laws and the Centre's "indifference" to their demands for better wages.

"The strike is on. We are getting good response. More information will pour in after sometime. Around 90 per cent workers at BHEL's plant in Tiruchirapalli have not reported at work in the morning shift," Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) General Secretary Tapan Kumar Sen told PTI.

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Mumbai, Maharashtra

It was business as usual for public transport in Mumbai despite one-day nationwide strike call given by central trade unions, while it evoked a mixed response in rural Maharashtra.

The suburban trains, autorickshaws, taxis and city buses continued to operate normally, without affecting the daily schedule of lakhs of commuters in Mumbai and suburbs.

A CPM state unit leader told PTI that there were instances of 'rasta roko' (block roads) at various places in rural Maharashtra.

"Our activists staged 'rasta roko' agitation in Thane and Nashik districts," CPM leader Ashok Dhawle said.

He claimed that there was an 'overwhelming' response to the stir in the industrial belts of Maharashtra.

Several government employees also stayed away from work, he said.

All India Banks Employees Association general secretary Vishwas Utagi said entire financial sector will get paralysed today with all banks, except SBI, being on strike.

The LIC, Nabard, GIC among others are also participating in the strike, he added.

Telangana

Banking operations came to standstill in Telangana as over 15,000 employees of various banks participated in the general strike.

All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEAP) Joint Secretary BS Rambabu said demonstrations will be held in all the district headquarters along with other trade unions.

"Though branches will be open, there is no business taking place in PSU banks. Clearing will also be impacted. However, there will not be any problem with regard to ATMs' functioning," Rambabu told PTI.

Most of the buses run by Telangana State Road Transport Organisation are kept off the roads, a senior official said.

As many as two lakh state government employees (gazetted, non-gazetted and class 4 employees) are supporting the strike, Telangana Gazetted officers Association General Secretary A Satyanarayana said.

"We will not directly participate in the strike, but wear black badges and attend duties," Satyanarayana said.

Kerala

The strike hit normal life in Left-ruled Kerala with public transport vehicles staying off the roads and shops and business establishments downing shutters.

Autorickshaws, taxies, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and private buses are not plying on roads across the state with the workers of various unions taking part in the strike.

Major roads wore a deserted look in the state capital where hundreds of employees of ISRO units, including Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), could not reach their offices as the strike supporters laid a siege of an ISRO bus bay here.

However, police helped patients coming to the Regional Cancer centre here by arranging transport.

This is the first major strike in Kerala after the CPI(M) led LDF government came to power in May this year.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has courted controversy after expressing support to the strike on Facebook with BJP hitting out against him.

Tamil Nadu

The strike did not have much impact on normal life in Tamil Nadu as transport services and other businesses began the day's functioning normally.

Bus and train services were operated as usual while shops and business establishments remained open. Educational institutions are functioning normally.

The ruling AIADMK's labour wing is not participating in the strike called by ten central unions protesting "anti-worker" changes in labour laws and the Centre's "indifference" to their demands for better wages.

The striking union members staged demonstrations at various places raising slogans in support of their demands.

However, inter-state buses to Kerala were stopped at the border towns of Nagercoil and Theni.

Central government government offices wore a deserted look with the employees joining the strike while section of state government employees, especially in the revenue department, are also participating in the strike, the report said.

Shops in most places were open and autorickshaws were seen plying as usual.

Police have been deployed for providing security to PSUs and government offices to prevent any untoward incident.

West Bengal

The strike did not have much impact in West Bengal till late morning hours as transport services functioned normally.

Government buses and other private vehicles were operating normally on the roads, officials said.

Train services at Sealdah and Howrah sections, and Metro Rail services were also as usual. However, the rush of passengers was less.

"So far, there has been no major incidents, except a few small incidents in some districts," said a senior police official.

CITU-led Left trade unions claimed that the strike is going on peacefully and accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) of trying to incite violence at some places.

"The people of the state have willingly participated in the strike. In most of the places it is peaceful but in certain areas TMC is using its muscle power to break the strike," CITU State President Shyamal Chakraborty told PTI.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said while leaving for Italy, "The strike will be a complete failure in the state. I will be monitoring the entire work personally. Even though I will be out of the state but I will monitor the situation. My appeal to everybody is to reject the strike for the development of the state."

The ruling TMC, which is opposing the strike, is celebrating Singur Divas throughout the state in order to counter the strike today.

Who are behind the strike

All major unions, excluding RSS-associated BMS (Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh), have joined the strike call, terming the government's assurances to look into their demands and the recent announcements for two-year bonus and hike in minimum wage as "completely inadequate".

On its part, the government has asked all ministries to ensure that public utilities and essential services are not affected. Secretaries of all departments have been asked to take effective measures for smooth running of various services coming under their respective ministries.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Mumbai, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya blamed the previous UPA regime for the issues faced by the workers and said the present government "doesn't want a confrontation with labour unions" and rather needs their cooperation and support.

He had conceded banking and insurance sectors are likely to be impacted more due to the strike today, while adding that out of 12 demands of the trade unions, eight are related to the labour department and seven of them have been agreed to.

Last year, these 10 trade unions had called nationwide strike and around 15 crore workers participated in the agitation.

(With inputs from PTI)