To protest against government policies, different trade unions across the country have called for a nationwide strike, beginning today. The strike will be observed for two days, March 28 and 29.
The All India Bank employees association has pledged support to the pan-India strike against ‘anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of the union govt’.
Here are the key points-
* The bandh has been called to protest against the government’s economic policies.
* This is the first such strike after the BJP won the Assembly elections in four of five states.
* Reduced rate of interest on Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, rising fuel prices, are among a few reasons for the Bandh call.
* Functioning of banks and financial institutions is likely to be affected by the strike as bank unions too have joined the strike call.
* Roadways and transport sector workers and electricity workers too have decided to join the strike, leading top apprehensions that these services could be badly hit in some states.
* The strike notices have been given by unions in the sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks, insurance among others.
* The unions in railways and defence sector would be making mass mobilization in support of strike at several hundreds of spots.
* The police have arranged for a travel facility to help people reach destinations like railway stations, hospitals etc.
* The Platform of Central Trade Unions and Sectoral Federations and Associations calls upon all sections of society to extend their support to the strike called under the slogan ‘Save People, Save Nation’.
* The central trade unions which are part of this joint forum are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
* The Ministry of Power has issued an advisory to all the state government and electricity authorities to prepare themselves to ensure maintenance and reliability of the electricity grid during the strike called by the National Convention of Workers from March 28 to March 30.
* Claiming that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal is showing its true colours by opposing a two-day bandh call from Monday against the Centre’s policies, CITU state president Anadi Sahu said that the Left trade unions, student bodies and supporters will be on the streets to make the strike a success.
