Bengaluru Buses, Autos Likely to Remain Off Roads Today as Trade Unions Go on for Nationwide Strike

Bengaluru: Ten central trade unions will launch a two-day nationwide protest today (January 8) and tomorrow (January 9) to condemn the anti-labour and anti-trade policies promoted by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Organisations like the AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, along with employees of banks and insurance companies and BSNL, would participate in the protest.

The strike is also likely to affect the KSRTC and BMTC bus services in Bengaluru. Autos and Private taxis have also decided to lend support by staying off the roads for the duration of the strike. While the Ola and Uber drivers’ associations haven't confirmed their stand yet, they are likely to lend moral support to the strike.

A charter of 12-demands was put forth by the unions at the National Convention of Workers held on September 28. Some of these demands were: minimum wages, pension to all, end of contract labour, universal social security and enforcement of labour laws.

The unions also want to highlight the troubles caused to the common man due to rising commodity prices, and lack of job opportunities — a Modi government promise that remains unfulfilled. They are also demanding a halt on the sale of public sector undertakings through divestment or other routes.

Some sections of PSU bank employees — who are part of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) — and Bank Employees Federation of India will also participate in the strike. On December 26, too, the bank employees had observed a strike against the merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.