They are likely to be affected as the central unions began a nationwide strike on Thursday. A union representative said that Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been hit the hardest so far due to the unrest.
Here are the key things to know:
10 central unions called a strike
A joint platform of ten central trade unions has called for a day-long strike, including the National Trade Union Congress of India (INTUC), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the India Trade Union Center (CITU), All India United Trade Union Center (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Center (TUCC) and Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).
Banking services
Bank employees affiliated with the Bank Employees Association of India (AIBEA), the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE) and the Federation of Bank Employees of India (BEFI) support the strike. One of the banks’ unions, the Banking Officials Confederation of India (AIBOC), is providing fraternal support for the strike.
Other unions participating in the strike
Others are the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), the Progressive Federation of Labor (LPF) and the United Congress of Trade Unions (UTUC). Several independent federations and associations are also part of the joint platform.
Why do unions protest
They are protesting against the new agricultural and labor laws, among other worker-related issues, as well as raising various lawsuits. “The strike has started. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are completely closed. A similar situation is also developing in Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana and Goa. There is also a good response to the strike in Maharashtra,” said the general secretary of AITUC. , Amarjeet Kaur. PTI.
BMS does not participate
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), aligned with the BJP, is not participating in the strike.
Other services that may be affected
The general secretary of AITUC, Amarjeet Kaur, reported that it is also likely that the services in banks, LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), GIC (General Insurance Corporation) and the income tax department (TI) will be seen severely affected. “The Visakhapatnam steel plant is affected due to the strike. Furthermore, most of the coal mine workers are also on strike. Work at the copper plants, the port and the dock area is also affected. The industrial areas of Delhi are closed. Workers would protest in Jantar Mantar, “Kaur said.
United front of farmers’ organizations
The united front of farmers’ organizations, AIKSCC, has also extended its support for the general strike and is mobilizing its members in rural areas to express their solidarity with the striking workers. Regime workers, domestic workers, construction workers, beedi workers, street vendors, vendors, agricultural workers, the self-employed in rural and urban areas have also decided to take to the streets to eat ‘chakka jam ‘.
Car and taxi drivers also join
In many states, car and taxi drivers have chosen to stay off the roads. The railway and defense workers’ federations have decided to have a large mobilization on Thursday to express their solidarity with the striking workers.
What are the demands made by the unions?
They have also called on the government to withdraw all “laws against farmers and labor codes against workers and stop the privatization of the public sector, including the financial sector, and stop the corporatization of government-run manufacturing and service entities,” like railways, ordinance factories, ports, etc. ” “.
Among other demands, the unions have sought the withdrawal of the “draconian circular on forced premature retirement of government and PSU employees.”
Other demands of the unions include ‘pension for all’, elimination of the NPS (National Pension System) and restoration of the previous pension with improvement in EPS-95 (Employees’ Pension Plan-1995 administered by the retirement fund agency EPFO).
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