Banking services, airports and certain industrial hubs could be impacted by the two-day general strike call by 11 central trade unions and many independent federations from today.
Among the States that are likely to be impacted are West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, parts of Uttar Pradesh and North East, sources said. In Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi also announced its support to the strike.
The strike call had been given last year by trade unions of all hues, including the Congress-backed INTUC, the BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Left-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All India United Trade Union Congress, and Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
“Since 2009, we have been protesting against price rise, PSU disinvestment, violation of labour laws etc. but this Government does not seem to care about workers,” CITU President A.K. Padmanabhan told
Trade union sources said they were going ahead with the strike as the Government had nothing concrete to say in the talks held with three Cabinet Minister’s on Monday night.
Industry concern
Meanwhile, industry chamber Assocham said “The strike would take its toll on at least 30-40 per cent of daily GDP, or Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore.”
Assocham President R.K. Dhoot, said the strike would cripple mostly the service sector like banking, insurance and transport, besides industrial production.
FinMin appeal
In a release, the Finance Ministry appealed to bank employees not to join the strike on February 20-21.
“None of the main points contained in the charter of demands has any connection with bank employees. Banks provide employment to a large number of people and continue to recruit every year. Bank employees have social security cover. They hold regular jobs which carry attractive scales of pay. They receive bonus, PF and gratuity in accordance with applicable laws. They are entitled to pension,” the release added.