The 24-hours nation-wide general strike called by 11 major trade unions evoked mixed response in the district on Tuesday.
The public sector banking operations were paralysed as only officers attended work on the day. However, staff of private sector new generation banks did not join the strike.
In government offices, revenue department was affected severely while many other departments functioned as under normal conditions.
According to industry and police sources, the production in Tirupur knitwear cluster was affected only to the tune of 40 percent.
“Many companies decided to operate for meeting the delivery commitments as already a strike called by Tirupur Industrial Protection Committee last week on another issue coupled with the long hours of load shedding had upset the rhythm of production.
Hence, we can not afford to stop the work for 24-hours for the fear of losing orders from foreign buyers,” pointed out a representative of an industrial association.
Public transport buses plied the services as usual and only a handful of auto-rickshaws kept off the road.
Barring a few, shops and commercial establishments too functioned as usual.
Demonstration
Representatives of major trade unions and employees associations, who took part in the general strike, staged a demonstration in front of the Railway Station here to highlight their demands which include protection of trade union rights, steps to contain inflation and creation of new employment opportunities, among others.
Closure of shops in Chennimalai and Perundurai was said to be nearly 60 to 70 per cent on Tuesday as a fall out of the nation wide general strike call given by the trade unions in protest against the economic policies and "anti-labour policies" of the Governments.
In Coimbatore and neighbouring areas Textile Units and banks reported the highest participation in strike with 100 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.
Shops that remained closed and autorickshaws that kept off the road in the morning gradually started functioning as the day progressed on seeing deployment of police forces. More than 65 per cent of the auto rickshaws were on the road by noon, police said.
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation reported nearly 22 per cent abstention as a fall out of the strike while the operation of bus services remained very normal but for operation of buses to and from destinations in Kerala as the strike call evoked more response there.
ATMs of nationalised banks reportedly ran out of cash towards afternoon and banking services were worst hit but for private and new generation banks. Government offices more or less had a deserted look with staff abstaining from work. Abstention from work in unorganised sector was 20 per cent, the police said.
