Thiruvananthapuram : The national strike called by central trade unions, to protest anti-workers-farmers-people polices of the Narendra Modi government has hit streets. Protest demonstrations took off past Sunday midnight to last into midnight of Tuesday. Over 25 crore labourers from the unorganised sector are partaking in the historic bandh. Farmer unions in token of solidarity for the strike, will conduct rural bandh for the two days. BJP- and Trinamool governments threaten to impose ESMA(Essential Services Maintenance Act) to suppress the strike.
This is the sixth national strike called by central trade union since coming into power of the Modi government. The strike puts forth 12 major demands including repeal of new labour rule. Unions representing workers and employees from sectors including coal, steel, oil-natural gas, telecom, postal, income tax, bank, insurance, ports public transport, electricity etc have issued notice toward the strike. Night-shift workers in varied sectors began strike at midnight, Sunday.
Though not participating employees staffed in Railway Protection Force have conveyed backing for the strike. Employees from state government offices and public sector and teachers are joining the strike. Rail-road picketing wail be conducted at different places. Trade union leaders will address worker rallies at various centres.
