The strike has so far evoked a mixed response with transport services being hit in some states. Banking services have, however, been affected majorly.
Employees of all public sector banks have joined the one-day strike today to oppose the "outsourcing of non-core activities to private sector", among other things. There are about 87,000 branches of public sector banks across the country. The state-owned lenders control about 75 per cent of banking business.
In Kerala, road transport, banking and other day-to-day services are crippled. Buses are off the roads, shops across the state are closed and bank operations are hit. Pro-Left unions in the state say they have joined the protest against the "neo-liberal economic and labour policies" of the UPA government.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ensured that state transport buses and trams are plying to facilitate passenger movement. However, according to reports, only a few people have come out of their houses in Kolkata in the wake of the bandh call. Yesterday, the Chief Minister had warned workers against going on strike. She had also slammed the CPI(M) and Left parties for choosing the "politics of bandhs". "Strikes and bandhs are expressions of frustration and it serves only vested interests," she said. Ms Banerjee also admitted that resorting to bandhs during her days as opposition leader in the state was a "mistake".
In Mumbai, there is virtually no impact of the strike as auto and taxi unions of the city are not participating in it in the wake of ongoing Class 12 examinations.
In Delhi, there are very few taxis and autos at railway stations. The state government has clamped Essential Services Maintenance Act or ESMA on all power companies in the city to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.
In Bangalore too, commuters are facing troubles as autos are off the roads.
Yesterday, the government's attempts to avert the strike remained unsuccessful with union leaders rejecting last-minute appeals. They said all 11 major trade unions including Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Shiv Sena-backed Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BMS) and UPA ally Indian Union Muslim League's trade-wing STU would join hands to make the strike a success. About 5,000 small unions are also supporting the strike call.
"This a historic occasion as for the first time all the major trade unions irrespective of political affiliations are coming together to protest anti-labour polices of the government," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.
The government had last week appealed to the trade unions to desist from going on strike with Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge saying the government was ready to discuss any kind of labour-related issues.
Rejecting the appeal, Mr Dasgupta said, "We are not ready to consider such a ritualistic statement on the part of the government." He said the government had enough opportunity earlier to sit with the trade unions to discuss the issues.
The trade union are demanding a universal social security net for all unorganised sector workers through creation of a national social security fund, enforcement of basic labour laws and stringent punitive action against violation of labour laws. They are also demanding amendment to the Minimum Wages Act, provision for pensions, abolition of contract-based appointments and for putting an end to the disinvestment process of profit-making Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
(With agencies inputs)
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