GOVERNMENT APATHY ON DEMANDS CAUSED NATIONWIDE STRIKE

TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES AT STRIKE IN VARANASI UP

At least 18 crore government employees of 10 chief trade unions are on strike today. The nationwide affect of strike is being seen. The Trade Unions the Left Worker Unions where marched a protest rally, The workers union in Karnataka and Kerala including other states are also demonstrating. The public transports, the banking and telecoms — all the essential services have been badly affected. When the demonstrators’ in Kulburgi of Karnataka were kindling the wheel tyre, one of them sustained the burn injury.

LABOURERS AT GANDHI PRATIMA HAJARATGANJ LUCKNOW, UP: PHOTO BY RAJEEV YADAV

The unions at the local level in some states participated in the strike. The banks, government offices and the factories remained closed. The public transports services affected the normal life.

The police have arrested Ashok Bhattacharya, Myor Siligudi (West Bengal) during the strike.

The unions are adamant in protest on the relaxation of rules of foreign direct investment in insurance and defense sectors; the plan to closing of public sector enterprises is being protested; the trade unions are protesting the directions of government to invest more money of government pension fund and the stock market.

The central trade unions have said that the apathy on the 12 points demands from the government have caused for the strike. The basic demands are to hike Rs18000/mensem wages and Rs 3000 monthly pension.

AT A GLANCE

·         In New Delhi, Nurses protest at RML Hospital, demanding salary hike, but have said that they will attend emergency cases. The striking nurses may face action for hampering health services following the imposition of ESMA by Delhi government.

Delhi: Nurses protest at RML Hospital, demanding salary hike.

·         Siliguri(WB) Municipal Corporation Mayor Ashok Bhattacharya arrested along with 15 other protesters.

·         CITU workers hold protest rally in support of their demands in Kolkata.

·         CPM and TMC workers clash during trade union strike in Madhyamgram.

·         CITU workers hold protest rally in support of their demands in Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh): CITU workers hold protest rally in support of their demands

·         In Left-ruled Kerala, government offices, schools and colleges are closed and all public transport is off the roads. 

·         The workers of state-run Coal India will be joining the bandh but company officials said they did not expect any shortfall in supplies for power companies.

·         Employees of at least six public sector banks have joined the strike. This means that the banking services will be affected with many banks already having communicated to their customers about the likely inconvenience.

·         Supply of essential commodities, like milk and water, will not be affected.