Trade Union Strike across India paralyses Normal Life

Essential services such as banking, transport, power and communication remain hit, as 10 Trade Unions have begun their one-day nationwide strike, demanding withdrawal of the proposed changes in the labour laws, fixing the minimum wages of workers at Rs 15,000 and stopping the disinvestment and privatization of PSUs among the 12-point charter of demands.

BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and National Front of Trade Unions (NFITU) have decided to boycott the strike, while other 10 Central Trade Unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) are leading the demonstration.

These 10 Unions have claimed to have a combined membership of 15 crore workers in public and private sector. Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who claimed that the strike would have minimal impact, has revealed that the government is in talks with the trade unions to resolve their issues even though they have gone on a strike today.