Bharat Bandh On June 9: Banking, Transport, Postal Services To Be Hit As Trade Unions Protest Centre’s Policies

Multiple sectors including banking, transport, posts and industry are expected to suffer a blow on Wednesday as multiple trade unions have called for a nationwide strike. The forum of central trade unions and independent sectoral federations has called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ due to multiple long-pending issues related to labours as well as traders.

On Monday, the forum of central trade unions and independent sectoral federations, an association of 10 trade unions, called for an all-India general strike on Wednesday by unions from all sectors of the organised and unorganised economy across the country. The strike is against the central government’s policies and the workers’ long-pending demands.

The forum includes unions like Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), All india Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

According to the forum’s statement, the strike is against the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government. It added that the trade unions are fighting against privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, outsourcing, contract and casual employment policies, anti-worker and pro-employer labour codes, increase in working hours as well as decriminalising labour law violations. The unions have also expressed resentment against a few laws being brought in some states like the Maharashtra Public Security Bill, alleging that they will control public movements and declare them a crime. 

The Bharat Bandh on Wednesday is expected to hit the operations of multiple sectors including banks, postal department, telecommunication, public transport, LIC, electricity, petroleum, mining and other private as well as state government departments. It said that defence sector employees will stage a one-hour gate meeting before entering the office and railway unions have launched a solidarity campaign and will participate in the gatherings.

It claimed that unions from sectors like construction, ASHA workers, aanganwadi, mid-day meal, domestic workers, hawkers and vendors, rickshaw and taxi among others will participate in the mass struggle. Students, youth, teachers, women's organisations and social organizations have also supported this strike. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Joint Front of Agricultural Workers Organisations have also supported the strike.

“The government's economic policies are leading to increased unemployment, inflation of essential commodities, fall in wages, reduction in social sector expenditure on education, health and basic civic amenities. This is increasing inequality and misery for the poor, low-income groups and even the middle class. The government has abandoned its role as a welfare state and its policies are clearly being run in the interest of domestic and foreign corporations,” read the statement.

news