Bharat Bandh: The bank unions are participating in the strike to protest against the government’s plan to privatize public sector banks.
Bharat Bandh: Roadways, transport workers, and electricity workers have decided to join the strike in spite of the threat of the Essential Services Maintenance Act.
The statement said that roadways, transport workers, and electricity workers have decided to join the strike in spite of the impending threat of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Why will they protest?
According to the joint forum, the BJP government at the Centre has intensified the attacks on the working people, reducing the interest rate on EPF accumulations to 8.1 per cent from 8.5 per cent.
Sudden hike in petrol, LPG, kerosene, CNG etc., taking steps to implement their programme of monetisation (PSU land bundles) but are held back only because of the worsening condition of inflation and crashing share markets.
The meeting condemned these policies, it stated.
Who will join the strike on March 28-29?
>Financial sectors, including banking and insurance, are joining the strike. The strike notices have been given by unions in the sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks, insurance among others, the statement said.
>The unions in railways and defence sector would be making mass mobilisation in support of the strike at several hundreds of spots, it stated.
>The meeting appealed to various unions at state levels to join the strike to oppose the anti-labour policies of the central government, the four labour codes being it’s a glaring example.
>The central trade unions which are part of this joint forum are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
>The forum called upon all sections of society to extend their support to the strike called under the slogan ‘Save People, Save Nation’, it stated.
Bengal govt offices to remain open during at Bharat Bandh
The West Bengal government has already said all offices will remain open on those days and mandated employees to report for duty.
“In view of calls given by different trade unions and others for 48 hours nationwide strike on March 28 and 29, 2022.
It has been decided that all state government offices including those provided with Grants-in-Aid by the state government shall remain open and all the employees shall report for duty on those days,” reads the state government memorandum released on Saturday.
“It has been decided that no casual leave or any other leave for absence either in the first half or in the second half or for the whole day shall be granted to any employee on the above-mentioned dates, is further notified that the absence of employees in those days will be treated as ‘dies-non’ and no salary will be admissible,” it added.
Ensure normal functioning: Power ministry to states
The power ministry has written to all states governments and electricity authorities asking them to ensure normal functioning of the electricity supply during the strike of the employees.
Shutdown activities planned during these two days may be rescheduled to suitable future dates, the ministry said.
Additional manpower may be deployed at all critical power stations to handle any emergency conditions.
Control room executives should be vigil and on high alert and power supply to essential services like hospitals, defence infrastructure, railways should be ensured, the power ministry advisory said.
Bharat Bandh Called On Monday, Tuesday: Your Guide
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The call for the nationwide strike was given by a joint forum of central trade unions, to protest against government policies affecting workers, farmers, and people.
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Amarjeet Kaur, All Indian Trade Union Congress General Secretary, told PTI that they are expecting participation of over 20 crore formal and informal workers with mass mobilisation of workers across the country.
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The bank unions are participating in the strike to protest against the government’s plan to privatise public sector banks, as well as the Banking Laws Amendment Bill 2021.
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A number of banks, including the State Bank of India, have issued a statement informing customers that banking services may be impacted on Monday and Tuesday.
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Apart from banks, workers from various other sectors such as steel, oil, telecom, coal, postal, income tax, copper, and insurance are expected to participate in the strike.
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The unions in the railways and defence sector are expected to make mass mobilisation in support of strikes at several hundreds of spots
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Roadways, transport workers and electricity workers have decided to join the strike.
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The Power Ministry today advised all the state-run utilities and other agencies to be on high alert and ensure round-the-clock electricity supply and stability of the national grid.
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Power supply to those engaged in essential services such as hospitals, defence, and railways must be ensured, the ministry’s advisory said and suggested setting up of a 24×7 control room for information dissemination and handling any kind of contingency.
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The West Bengal government has mandated employees to report for duty on Monday and Tuesday saying that all state government offices will remain open despite the Bharat Bandh.
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In its memorandum, the Bengal government also said that no casual leave or a half-day leave would be granted to any employee on March 28 and 29.
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“It is further notified that the absence of employees in those days will be treated as ‘dies-non’ and no salary will be admissible,” reads the state government memorandum.
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The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has announced that it will not participate in the strike. The Sangh said that the upcoming strike was ‘politically motivated and aimed at the survival of selected political parties.
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The All India Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress has extended support to the nationwide strike. “Our leader Rahul Gandhi has been voicing concern in favour of their demands.