Ahmedabad: Stop privatisation of PSUs, say employees

Employees of Public Sector Units (PSUs) in Ahmedabad said that privatisation of PSUs is not in the interest of the nation and uncontrolled privatisation will lead to monopolies, depriving the consumer of their choices.

Unions representing various sectors of the formal and informal economy participated in the strike. A rally was taken out from Victoria Garden to the office of Labour Commissioner to submit a memorandum of demands, which include strengthening PSU banks, controlling prices of essential commodities, strengthening public distribution system, banning speculative trade in commodity market, creating of new jobs for the youth, enforcement of labour laws, providing social security to all workers, enforcing and enhancing minimum wages, equal pay for equal work, independent of whether the worker is on a contract or permanent ground, stop disinvestment of PSUs and stop indiscriminate Foreign Direct Investment in defence, insurance, railways and other core sectors.

They have also sought to discontinue merger and privatisation of PSBs, recover bad loans, stop outsourcing of banking work and have adequate recruitment in all banks. Janak Raval, general secretary of Maha Gujarat Bank Employees Association (MGBEA) said that the bandh was near total, as unions that had not participated in the strike, had supported the strike. "While they attended the office, work was not done. Transactions were affected. The strike will continue on Wednesday as well," said Raval.