The second day of the all-India strike called by major central trade unions did not have any impact on the normal life of the citizens in the district, except for many ATMs of banks running out of currency on Thursday.
The police said attendance in the government sector remained unchanged from the first day of the strike on Wednesday.
Essential services such as public transport and supply of milk and vegetables were not affected, the police said.
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Day two of the strike was marked by protests by trade unions, especially the combined demonstration conducted by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Labour Progressive Front, All India Trade Union Congress and Indian National Trade Union Congress.
Large number of the members of these unions, led by V. Pitchai (CITU), Alphone (LPF), A. Muthaiah (AITUC) and K.S.G. Kumar (INTUC) took part in the demonstration held on Scott Road.
Three railway trade unions staged a demonstration separately pressing for the common charter of demands such as withdrawal of employing contract workers, fixing minimum wages at Rs.10,000 and an assured pension for all.
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Members of the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, Dakshin Railway Employees’ Union and Southern Railway Employees’ Sangh also staged demonstrations.
Banking services hit
Banking services were hit in Madurai for the second consecutive day on Thursday as the bank employees stayed off from work in support of the trade unions and their demands.
The public were put to hardship as several ATMs in the city reportedly ran out of cash.
Nearly 4000 staff members from various banks in the city took part in the two day strike condemning the price rise, against labour law amendment, privatisation of public sector and several others. As many as 800 members Insurance Corporation Employee’s Union in Madurai Division also stayed off from work for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Staffs and workers in the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Madurai division abstained from work giving their support to the nation wide stir. According to trade union office-bearers, on the first day 2395 employees abstained from work and on the second day 2,464 employees were absent in Madurai, Virudhunagar and Dindigul respectively. Nearly, 50 per cent of the work force stayed away during the last two days and they claimed that some services were hit due to shortage of staffs. However, a senior official in the TNSTC said that but for a meagre percentage of absenteeism, the stir had not affected the normal operations.