Essential services, like public transport, were hit in many states on Wednesday as millions of workers went on strike to protest the anti-labour, anti-people policies of the central government.
Here are 10 things you need to know about these strikes:
1. Normal life hit as day-long nationwide strike begins
Normal life was affected in various parts of the country, including in West Bengal and Kerala.
The day long strike was seen affecting transport and banking operations among other services.
In Kolkata, partial impact was seen on suburban trains while shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed.
State administration was plying a large fleet of public buses while partial impact was seen on operations of private buses and taxis.
In the National Capital, commuters faced problems as a large number of autos and taxis remained off the roads.
In Kerala, public and private bus services, taxis and autorickshaws were off the roads. Only few private cars and two wheelers were seen on the roads.
Shops, hotels and even small tea stalls were closed in the state.
2. Who all are on strike
Ten central trade unions, with a combined membership of 15 crore workers in public and private sector, are observing the one-day nationwide strike on Wednesday.
3. Informal sector workers also join strike
Various outfits for informal sector workers, under the banner of Working People's Charter, have also joined the strike.
4. What are the demands of Trade Unions
Trade unions have called this strike over a 12-points charter of demands, including withdrawal of the proposed changes in the labour laws and stopping the disinvestment and privatization of PSUs.
5. BJP-backed BMS pulls out of strike
The BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has opted out of the strike.
The BMS says it is not the best way out in view of the government's assurances on various demands.
"Since the government has come forward with positive assurances on our basic demands and assured us to continue dialogue, BMS decides to defer the strike for the time being," BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said.
6. National Front of Indian Trade Unions also opts out of strike
The National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) is also not participating in the strike. The NFITU too wants to give some time to the government, at least till the winter session of Parliament, for fulfilling its assurances like uniform minimum wages across the board and enhancing wage ceiling for bonus.
8. Govt-Trade Unions talks to continue
The government has indicated that the talks with trade unions will continue despite their strike.
9. Govt to look into unions' demands
A high-level group of senior ministers had met the top union leaders to convince them of withdrawing the strike call and had also promised to look into their various demands, including minimum wages, contract labour and social security.
The ministers' group, headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley, had offered increasing the minimum wages and making it mandatory, among other steps.
The ministerial panel had also proposed to raise the ceiling of bonus, widening the coverage of the provident fund and health insurance to include workers from construction as well as schemes such as aanganwadis.
The panel comprising oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, power minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh had two rounds of meeting with the trade unions in as many days.
10. TMC is against strike
The ruling Trinamool Congress has asked the people of West Bengal to "foil" the September two nationwide strike called by several central trade unions including the Leftist trade unions - AITUC and CITU.
"The CPM and Left Front during its 34 year-old rule had pushed state backwards with its militant trade unionism. Now when the state is moving fast on the path of development, they are trying to stop it either by violence or through shutdowns," Senior TMC leader and state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said.
"They (Left) have ruined the state by goondaism during their 34-year-rule in the state. Now they are again trying to take up goondaism to halt the state's growth," Mukherjee added.
Here are 10 things you need to know about these strikes:
1. Normal life hit as day-long nationwide strike begins
Normal life was affected in various parts of the country, including in West Bengal and Kerala.
The day long strike was seen affecting transport and banking operations among other services.
In Kolkata, partial impact was seen on suburban trains while shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed.
State administration was plying a large fleet of public buses while partial impact was seen on operations of private buses and taxis.
In the National Capital, commuters faced problems as a large number of autos and taxis remained off the roads.
In Kerala, public and private bus services, taxis and autorickshaws were off the roads. Only few private cars and two wheelers were seen on the roads.
Shops, hotels and even small tea stalls were closed in the state.
2. Who all are on strike
Ten central trade unions, with a combined membership of 15 crore workers in public and private sector, are observing the one-day nationwide strike on Wednesday.
3. Informal sector workers also join strike
Various outfits for informal sector workers, under the banner of Working People's Charter, have also joined the strike.
4. What are the demands of Trade Unions
Trade unions have called this strike over a 12-points charter of demands, including withdrawal of the proposed changes in the labour laws and stopping the disinvestment and privatization of PSUs.
5. BJP-backed BMS pulls out of strike
The BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has opted out of the strike.
The BMS says it is not the best way out in view of the government's assurances on various demands.
"Since the government has come forward with positive assurances on our basic demands and assured us to continue dialogue, BMS decides to defer the strike for the time being," BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said.
6. National Front of Indian Trade Unions also opts out of strike
The National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) is also not participating in the strike. The NFITU too wants to give some time to the government, at least till the winter session of Parliament, for fulfilling its assurances like uniform minimum wages across the board and enhancing wage ceiling for bonus.
8. Govt-Trade Unions talks to continue
The government has indicated that the talks with trade unions will continue despite their strike.
9. Govt to look into unions' demands
A high-level group of senior ministers had met the top union leaders to convince them of withdrawing the strike call and had also promised to look into their various demands, including minimum wages, contract labour and social security.
The ministers' group, headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley, had offered increasing the minimum wages and making it mandatory, among other steps.
The ministerial panel had also proposed to raise the ceiling of bonus, widening the coverage of the provident fund and health insurance to include workers from construction as well as schemes such as aanganwadis.
The panel comprising oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, power minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh had two rounds of meeting with the trade unions in as many days.
10. TMC is against strike
The ruling Trinamool Congress has asked the people of West Bengal to "foil" the September two nationwide strike called by several central trade unions including the Leftist trade unions - AITUC and CITU.
"The CPM and Left Front during its 34 year-old rule had pushed state backwards with its militant trade unionism. Now when the state is moving fast on the path of development, they are trying to stop it either by violence or through shutdowns," Senior TMC leader and state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said.
"They (Left) have ruined the state by goondaism during their 34-year-rule in the state. Now they are again trying to take up goondaism to halt the state's growth," Mukherjee added.
Source : The Times of India
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