A convention of 11 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) has declared a nationwide strike on September 2 that will cover public and private sectors including banking and railways. The strike call is against the labour policy of the Union Government. It will also press a charter of demands that predates the Modi government.
“The government is aggressively bringing sweeping changes to push the overwhelming majority of workers out of the coverage of all labour laws and to drastically curb trade union rights,” a statement issued by representatives of the CTUs, said on Tuesday. The convention that coincided with the first anniversary of the Modi government said in the past year labour laws were being amended to empower the employers with unfettered rights to “hire and fire.” “Also, through changes in the existing land acquisition Act, farmers’ right to land and agriculture workers’ right to livelihood are being sought to be drastically curbed and curtailed,” the statement said.
Committee for negotiationsB.N. Rai, BMS president, said unless the government shows flexibility and addresses the demands raised by the unions, there can be no escape from the national strike even as the Prime Minister formed a ministerial committee for negotiations with the CTUs. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh are members of the panel.
The Indian National Trade Union Congress, the All India Trade Union Congress, the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the All India United Trade Union Centre, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Coordination Committee, the United Trade Union Congress, the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India and the Labour Progressive Federation were also represented in the convention.
