The one-day strike affected the functioning of small scale industrial units in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab and Chandigarh.
NEW DELHI: The one-day CITU-sponsored nationwide strike affected life in three Left-ruled states and the functioning of small scale industrial units in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab and Chandigarh.
Air and rail passengers had to walk long distances in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura as taxis and autos were off the roads.
Also read: Work at Singur plant not affected by CITU strike
Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) President MK Pandhe told UNI that initial reports recieved from various parts of the country reveal that workers in the organised sector also extended their support to the agitators who blocked traffic, held rallies and demonstrations to press the demand for two separate comprehensive laws for the agriculture and unorganised sectors.
"This is for the first time that a strike has been called in the unorganised sector on an all India basis to draw the government's attention towards the miserable plight of over 370 million workers," Pandhe said.
The CITU leader said the response to the Centre's call has been tremendous with participation by more than 70 per cent of workers in the home based industries all over the country.
"We have been forced to go on strike as the government, despite assurances in Parliament, has done nothing in black and white to our 15-point charter of demands which include employment security, minimum wages, pension benefit and equal wages for equal work."
Pandhe said West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura observed a virtual bandh even as bus, train and hospital services were kept out of the ambit of the strike. Normal life was greatly affected as the autos and taxis were completely off the roads. Even more than 50 per cent workers in the IT sector also participated in the strike.
PK Ganguly, convener , All India coordination committee of unorganised workers, said the workers in the stone queries, beedi factories, garments, handlooms, printing presses, book binding, forest workers, bangles, fire works, small chemical and pharmaceutical companies, rice and saw mills went on complete strike in West Bengal
The same is the case of Kerala where hawkers, small retailers and daily wagers also participated in the strike. It has been a complete bandh in Tripura where even private transporters have joined the strike.
The CITU leaders said , the workers in the public sector in Mumbai and industrial workers in Bhandhup also participated.
The workers organised a 'rasta roko' protest in Delhi, and important cities of Punjab and Chandigarh. The workers in the FCI, transport, agriculture participated in large numbers in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bhatinda, Hoshiyarpur and other cities. Workers in the industrial areas also came out to demonstrate their solidarity.
Forty lakh beedi workers all over the country participated in the strike. Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior and Dabra witnessed a near bandh. Contract workers in the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board joined the strike.
In Mumbai, hundreds of workers took out a rally despite heavy downpour. The workers in the unorganised sector in Andhra Pradesh , Asom, Orissa, Uttaranchal took out protest demonstrations.
Workers in manufacturing sector in Ferozabad, Benaras and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and those in Karnataka were on complete strike.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}