What Today’s Big Bharat Bandh Is About – and How It Affects You

Trade unions have rejected government’s minimum wage hike and are sticking to their plans of a nation-wide strike.

State Power Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay takes part in a rally with others protesting against the strike called by trade unions in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI)

Trade unions across the nation are on a mass strike on Friday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had on Tuesday announced an increase in the minimum wage from Rs 246 to Rs 350 in an attempt to appease the trade unions. He had even assured them of their bonus of the last two years, but the trade unions weren’t impressed. Rejecting the government’s minimum wage hike, they are sticking to their plan of a nationwide strike.

Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Also Read: Modi Calls Emergency Meeting to Avert Friday’s Trade Union Strike

How Will the Strike Impact You?

Over a million people will be joining the strike, as a result of which, banks, factories and government offices will remain closed.

In some states, local unions have shown solidarity with the trade unions and that could impact public transport majorly. The strike will also be joined by workers of state-run Coal India.

In response, Union Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said that power plants have enough coal to go on for next 5-60 days if nothing is mined out. The bandh might not have ramifications for the coal industry, according to Goel, but it is sure to impact the aam aadmi.

However, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, which is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, will not be joining the strike as projected earlier.

Also Read: Nationwide Trade Union Strike: Essential Services to be Affected

Activists of the trade unions and employees’ federation taking out a procession in Guwahati on Wednesday, in support of Central trade unions September 2 strike. (Photo: PTI)

What the Strike is All About?

The strike has been jointly organised by central trade unions and independent national federations of employees. One of their key demand is assurance of social security for workers and minimum wage of not less than 18,000 per month.

They are also demanding assured enhanced pension not less than 3,000 per month for all sectors, including unorganised workers. They have also asked that the FDI be removed from sectors like railways and defence.

They are opposed to the Modi government’s labour reforms and plans of shutting down some loss-making firms. They also don’t favour the government directive to state-run pension funds that emphasises on putting more money in stock markets.

The union has been pushing at least twelve demands since last year including a rise in minimum wages. Trade unions have also been very vocal in their disapproval of the Modi government’s relaxation in foreign policy and investment rules.

CITU activists participate in a rally in support of the September 2 strike to protest against the proposed labour reforms by Central and State government, in Kolkata on Monday. (Photo: PTI)

Left Unions’ Statement

Left unions issued a statement about the strike saying that the government has been making attempts to “demolish” existing labour laws.

The anti-worker and authoritarian attitude of the government is also nakedly reflected in their refusal to implement the consensus recommendations of 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian Labour Conference for formulations of minimum wages, equal wage and benefits of regular workers to the contract workers.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook to discuss the CPI(M) central committee’s strike on Friday.

He also talked about an online campaign where people can express their solidarity with the cause by clicking on the link.

(With inputs from NDTV, The Indian Express and agencies.)