Over 25 crore workers engaged in government sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal to coal mining among others are set to go on a nationwide strike or Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, July 9.
The strike is expected to disrupt public services across the country.
Who has called the strike and what impact it may have on normal life, we have answered all these questions in this article.
Who has called the July 9 Bharat Bandh?
A forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates has called for a general strike or ‘Bharat Bandh’ to “oppose the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government”.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and joint front of the agricultural workers unions have also extended support to the strike.
Who all will be participating in the Bandh?
Amarjeet Kaur from All India Trade Union Congress said that more than 25 crore workers are expected to take part in the strike. Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country.
Harbhajan Singh Sidhu from Hind Mazdoor Sabha said that the sectors to be affected by the strike include banking, postal, coal mining, factories and state transport services.
Union leaders from NMDC Ltd and other non-coal minerals, steel, state government departments, and public sector enterprises have also given notices to join the strike.
Other participating organisations include:
- Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
- Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
- Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)
- Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)
- United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)
Why are workers protesting?
A bunch of demands by the trade unions’ forum including addressing the issue of unemployment, recruitments against sanctioned posts, creation of more jobs, increase in days and remuneration of MGNREGA workers and enactment of similar legislation for urban areas have led to the general strike on Wednesday.
The forum had last year submitted a charter of 17-point demand to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandavia, the workers’ union forum said in its latest statement.
It further said that the government has not been conducting the annual labour conference for the last 10 years and continues to take decisions in contravention to the interest of labour force, attempting to impose four labour codes to weaken collective bargaining, to cripple unions’ activities and to favour employers in the name of ‘ease of doing business’.
The forum also alleged that the economic policies are resulting into more unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, depression in wages, cut in social sector spending in education, health, basic civic amenities, and all these are leading to more inequalities and miseries for poor, people of lower income group as well as the middle class.
Trade unions have been fighting against “privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, policies of outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation of workforce”, it said.
It also alleged that in government departments, instead of providing regular appointments to the youth, the policy to recruit those who retired, as witnessed in Railways, NMDC Ltd, steel sector, and teaching cadres, is damaging to the growth of the country where 65 per cent population is below the age of 35 years and the number of unemployed is maximum among those in the age group of 20 to 25 years.
Which sectors will be affected by the general strike?
- Banking and insurance
- Postal services
- Coal mining
- State transport
- Highways and construction
It is important to note that banking and railways unions have not separately officially confirmed any closure of banks, or disruption in train services.
What will remain open during the Bharat Bandh?
Schools, colleges and private offices will function normally during the July 9 strike. Trains are also expected to operate as usual, though some delays are expected.
As per the trade union, public modes of transport such as buses, taxis, and app-based cab services could remain affected.
