The nationwide, one-day general strike called by trade unions on Tuesday to protest the Centre's “neo-liberal economic and anti-labour” policies and to highlight the “soaring” prices of essential commodities received a mixed response. The working of banks and insurance firms was affected in many States, as were transport services, including trains.
The unions claimed that 10 crore workers and employees of both the organised and unorganised sectors took part in the strike. “It was unprecedented, and such a massive participation of workers in a strike was witnessed for the first time in India's history,” they said.
In many States, government and private buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis went off the road. Train services were affected in some States owing to picketing by protesters, who were later removed by the police. There was no report of flight operations being hit. Shops and other business establishments also were closed in some parts of the country.
While the public sector banks did not function, some private sector and foreign banks worked, doing as they did only limited transactions, with the RBI's clearinghouses remained shut.
As a precaution, some State governments declared a holiday for educational institutions. And in some other States, even employees of the public as well as private sectors abstained from work.
In New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, life was affected to some extent. In Delhi, autos and taxis went off the road and the traffic volume thinned, as a local holiday was declared in the neighbouring places of Noida, Ghaziabad, Sahibabad and Indirapuram in Uttar Pradesh, which went to the polls.
Interestingly, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), affiliated to the Congress that heads the ruling coalition at the Centre, and the Labour Progressive Front of the DMK, a major ally of the UPA, participated in the strike. The BMS of the BJP joined hands with such Left unions as the CITU and the AITUC. The other Central trade unions that participated in the protest were the HMS, the AIUTUC, the UTUC, the TUCC and the SEWA. The unions affiliated to the Shiv Sena and the Muslim League too backed the strike.
The other demands were the scrapping of the contract system, an amendment to the Minimum Wages Act, an assured pension for all and compulsory registration of trade unions. To ensure uninterrupted power supply in the capital, the Delhi government invoked the Essential Service Maintenance Act on Monday night.
Keywords: Trade union bandh, bank employees, insurance sector, CITU, AITUC, HMS
People of USA & Europe participate in the strike for settling the demands of the working people. How could West Bengal C M says that it is illegal. She has not only used police forces illegally against the people but her party members directly beat up reporters and photographers of TV channels and the press people.Why congress party and so called intellectuals kept mum. It is a grave concern for any democratic set up.
India being a democratic country enjoys the privilege of government of
the People, for the people and by the people.Over the time we have
seen the "bandhs" across the country.I think that it is somehow anti-
development sort of calls.They have already cost huge financial
loss.Big Organisations involvement has raised concern.All trade unions
need to take some other way to resolve their issues."Bandhs" are not
the right way.They all can have a way with words also.They need to sit
round the table and present a panoramic view on this issue.We people
need to "protest" such strikes and help in to build a great economy
and a prosperous country
Most of the trade unions including ruling party afiliated unions joined
in todays strike because the demands of the strike are for the common
people.The stand of Govt towads this srike is not justifiable. A
discussion with the union leaders on the issues was not done even though
notice for the strike was given well in advance. It seems that the
grievances related to common people are not to be attended and those
related to corporates are to be attended.
If there is no agitation on any issue how can the country know there is something wrong, this is a special day in the history of India, all the national trade unions, forgot the colour of their flags and unitedly joined in this movement, it deserved more coverage in the Press, since, every one had to join hands, that means the issues are serious, the news media is not taking it seriously, why
Our country started PSUs in defferent sectors and public get full earning employment first time in Indian society. Before PSUs employment was in half or quarter earning, due to this family was not capable to change their status. Labours son was labour always. We change our status by using higher earning and free our society from bonded labour evil. Trade unions roll as gardian of labours but nowdays we can see labour unions are polticalisation. This is a painful position and otherwise position of without trade unions is/may also painful. What is realy need to government employees? Decision is not easy what must be or not. It is clear that painful situation must be change. Strikes is pushing us/govt. in uncertainity. Uncertainity is a horrible situation in modern economy. All trade unions must stop their roll of opposition of govt. and must be faithfull to labours. Last pay revision of PSUs is not comparison able with managers of same institutes of employment. Save India.
Strikes are democratic way of expressing dissent by the public.
Naturally it will have impact on the daily routine of our life. Big
industrialists are in a position to influence the government against
labour and could reap the benefits of redistribution of wealth being
created in the economy. Lacs of crores are being given to them as
"incentives" when "subsidy" is characterised as a bad word in the
economy. Some times eminent economists like Sri Y V Reddy had
acknowledged this fact in the public domain. How this process can be
stalled? Those who are talking against the strike should spell out
ways for fighting this injustice perpetrated on the crores and crores
of ordinary people. When such discriminatory redistributive policies
are continuing since independence the socalled "constructive minded"
persons did nothing to change the path. So strikes are definitely
constructive in nature and it is the form of intervention of the
common man in the decision making of this country.
Will the C M Mamta Banerjee substantiate her statement" Absence from
duty will be treated as break in service" with legal verdicts to the
Press?. All trade unions in our Country serve advance notice to the
concern Government well in advance. Being this situation how can she
make such a statement in this Nation wide strike? Without having legal
facts, Mamta is requested not to make such statement otherwise she
should be answerable to such statements either in the Press or in the
State Assembly or in any Judiciary.
Does not support a bandh which will only make loss to the Indian economy. But take this forum to say that Mamata Banerjee is losing ground in west Bengal. She is turning out to be the most inefficient Chief Minister In India. She is sometimes trying to ressemble the not so popular schemes of Jayalalitha which is harmful to the Whole India. Her bad rule will give entry to CPM which had destroyed Bengal to come back to power.
Good show by the new Govt. Now i hope a solution comes out in tomorrow's
meeting between Infosys officials and the state Govt.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh is strongly against corruption hence MLA
are in jail while chief ministers also has to resign. The news of all
corruption inquiries indicate that now it is not simple to do corruption
which was earlier tradition of India. Those people who do not want this
change are trying stop government. People should protest against such
strike and save Indian economy.
Half of India's billion lives below poverty line. Politicians busy buying votes thro' contractors
on cast religion lines, dynasty like 500 or so small Kingdoms before independence, actors
and cricket players in politics and rich very rich adding more trillions, strikes happen but do
not change anything, will not change this social inequality.
Bandhs, hartals, strikes and the like are only antidemocratic excercises with a self-
ruining effect. These are totally unjust against the unorganized sections of the
public. No political parties or the ruling fronts can ever allow these to take place if
they are sincere in the best interests of the Nation. Better sound measures of protest
against injustice that will in no way affect the GDP might be devised; sooner all the
Organizations will have desisted from resorting to such methods of paralysing the
regular social living, the better.
As the trade unions are observing a nation wide strike for the most
important reasons, which they know cannot be solved, my question is why
they are going for a destructive strike rather should go for a
constructive one. India a country with 40% of the people below poverty
line. They will have an impact on their earning not the remaining. One
thing should be remembered by trade unions, showing power through
strikes is a chaotic method. It's time to model a new method of strike.
When we were studying in engineering college, there was an unwritten convention that each batch should have atleast one strike in 4 years of the UG program. If there was no immediate reason, we always had reasons like bad hostel food, replacement of furniture etc which were perennial reasons. Similarly the trade unions seem to have gone on strike just to ensure that the current set of office bearers have something to show for their existence. The inflation is controlled now, the economy seems to be picking up and demand is picking up. Corruption and nepotism is being punished everywhere and fear stalks the corrupt now more than anytime in the last few decades. Can the trade unions explain what is the immediate provocation for strike?
Let us change the name from Labour to worker. Labour sounds very menial. Demanding Minimum wages etc., alright. Are they working and earning. About this, unions don't talk. Railways, Banks and PSU like IOC Public transport etc no one works including Officers but they are all well paid. All Office Bearers like our Politicians don't attend to any work. This has to change. Country and its people will be very happy thereafter.
Workers in the nation have a lot to do in taking the nation to the path of progression. Exploitation of workers in terms of even their livelihood has been the hallmark of the government that they are not shielded from the clutches of inflation, job uncertainty and the ever-spiralling woes in medical and education sectors. Preventing people's right to protest is not democratical, let alone voicing the concerns of the toiling mass.
Bandh is alright. Many people are affected one way or the other. Minimum wages etc is ok. What about people living below poverty line. Where they go and cry. Let Union Govt or State Govt do their job well by bringing Down trodden above poverty line. It should be their primary job. Next expectation is drinking water, good roads, transportation, power, drainage system etc.,Nobody seems to be interested to provide basic facilities. We are falling prey to slogans like Maharatra is marathas. No one in the Govt is interested in nationalising rivers. There are so many good things can be done. we all supported Anna Hazare for bringing in Lokpal bill. what happened. It fizzled out.We have no will to see happiness of people. We all are narrow minded. Some Chief Ministers want to oppose Anti terror bill just because they don't like Mr.Chidambaram. They don't mind terrorist attack most vulnerable country like ours because we follow non-voilence. We divide our country on religion, caste, language,
In West Bengal (WB), Mamata led government for the first time was 'inactive' in not supporting the bandh. If this is "flexing muscle" then so be it. We have witnessed muscle flexing in state sponsored bandhs for 34 years that have virtually crippled the socio-economic texture of the state. No more bandhs in Bengal.
I completely agree with you PRASENJIT. Look at the scenario wen Mamata was not in power, for every now and then reasons she used to call bandhs. Chakka jam was a common issue. Bt as soon as she came into power she said NO MORE BANDHS. Its pure politics. Its not that she wants to support any cause or not, it is all about her tussle with CPM. By hook or crook she will not support anything for which the former is fighting for. Anyhow am not into politics, nor i suuport any bandhs so we shld say no to bandhs as far as safety is there.
When will India develop? Who will benefit out of these strikes? Every common man or citizen of India effected with this strike. Why do not supreme court BAN strikes and take stiff action on CALL for BANDH/Strike? People get struck on roads and patients die in Ambulances on roads in various states during BANDH days and schools are closed. Are we living still in 2012 or 200 BC?
It's the need of the hour to bring workers and laborers under organised sector to save them from exploiting. In India more than 60% of our workforce busy in agriculture and a huge part of this composition is agricultural landless laborer, who get seasonal work at a very less rate than minimum wage fixed by government because they are unaware and organised. They also work in hard conditions. Time comes to organize our rural and agricultural workers.
Govt is doing nothing for the welfare of the workers. Non of the city are complying with the Minimum Wages of the State. On a report to the Labour Department, their Inspector visit the Factory and instead of looking the records of Company, they only fix their fees in the way of quarterly, half yearly and yearly. Result happens that the worker is not paid for what he has been made the complain and instead he is sacked from the Company or tortured to such a extent that he resigns from the Company. Labour Department only enriching on the plight of the worker.
Labour rights must be recognised irrespective of the system of political dispensation because this is concerned with the welfare of the majority. In the wider sense whosoever offers his/her services in return for compensation/consideration is a labourer. Organised labour have at least bargaining capacity through their Unions> But the real problem is for labour force in unorganised sector like construction where all kinds of malpractices are resorted to by contractors,sub-contractor as was brought out in case of Commonwealth games.
This is a fake political protest by political parties and their unions in a belated effort to try to blackmail the government in the name of some things which have been here around for a long long time. Corruption has taken a severe beating in the congress rule and they have shown their dedication to the nation. price Hikes are a global phenomena and the opposition knowing this has tried to use that issue to batter the government. This congress government has been Re-elected by millions of indians who show support for the stable and strong and peacefull government by congress. This strike is a challange to democracy
This strike is a shameless challange to all the millions of indians who never want such strikes .
With 11 unions calling for a strike, that too on a issue which affects everyone, a better response was expected. The issues at stake, though very important, perhaps were not just emotive enough for the people to respond or the organizers have not been able to stir the people.
This is for the media in Chennai covering the strike: in addition to everything else, please explore the way auto-drivers are using the strike to ply their vehicles today but at double the cost!! On a different page, concerned authorities in Chennai need to look into the auto system where nobody uses the meter and where the police-auto driver nexus seems to be very successful working model when it comes to fleecing and abusing commuters.
Strike is not right and it should not be considered as last weapon
to fight with.However trade unions demands are genuine and should be
tabled and properly addressed by Govt. This is utter failure of Govt
that all unions resorted to it last weapon.Govt cann't neglect its machinery backbone ie employees. One common question arises Govt and
its employees have nothing to do with common man and both are
indulge in harassing him.Without considering the common man Govt
dictate in their parties favour. We should now awaken to fight the menace created by Govt.
I feel that there is more coercion than spontaneity in such strikes and therefore, these strikes have lost all social relevance. Further, ordinary, law abiding citizens are always at the receiving end of the so these ‘mass’ leaders’ sticks. It is obvious that time and again bank and other public sector employees’ union leaders have to demonstrate that they have a nuisance value. Their strikes do not achieve any thing except causing inconvenience to helpless public, particularly depositors of banks. Unfortunately, the bank depositors and other affected citizens are not as united as these employees. A class action suit for inconvenience caused, non-availability of service and resultant damages would have been an effective response if ordinary citizens were united.
Mamata is 100% correct. Labour union should call strike for labour disputes and not for price rise. It is duty of political parties to protest on the price rise issue.
As I understand most of the labour unions called this Bandh for protesting against unusual price-hike, corruption etc around the country. This not only for themselves, this is their protest for all. what Mamata is trying to show she is anti-Bandh, pro-develpment face of new-Benbal, If you saw todays news she has rejected the devlopment of IT SEZ by Infosys in Bengal. By protesting Bandh she just wants show her muscle power, nothing else.
Please Email the Editor