Banking, insurance, transport, power and telecom services are likely to be hit as major trade unions will go on a 48-hour general strike from Wednesday.
The trade unions gave the call for a nation-wide strike in protest against “anti-people” policies of the UPA government and its inability to check price rise, non-implementation of labour laws, disinvestment in public sector undertakings and allowing foreign direct investment in various sectors.
The unions are demanding pension for all employees, lifting ceiling on bonus and provident fund.
Cutting across political lines, all the major trade unions in the State including the Indian National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and Hind Mazdoor Sabha are participating in the strike. The breakaway group of the INTUC headed by S. Vijaya Laxmi, however, called upon its members not to participate in the two-day strike.
Railways and air services as well as the State government employees including teachers would attend their duties as they were not taking part in the strike.