Trade unions call for nationwide bandh today; Over 100 flights cancelled in Kolkata

New Delhi, Kolkata:  Nine major trade unions have called for a 24-hour long nationwide bandh today to protest against price rise and other issues like disinvestment of public sector, retrenchment and entry of foreign capital in retail market. Kolkata seems to be the worst-hit due to the strike as of now, with more than 100 flights cancelled by major carriers.

Today's strike comes just two months after the BJP brought the country to a stand-still in July with its Bharat bandh call against escalating prices.

Banking services are also likely to be affected as the federations of bank employees are joining the strike.

The Railways, however, is kept out of the purview of the strike as Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has opposed the strike. The Left Front is supporting the strike called by the trade unions but have urged people to keep it peaceful.

  
   "Nearly six crore workers will participate in the strike across the country. Those employed in private sector will also join the strike in many places," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta told PTI.

"AITUC, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC and federations of different categories of workers and employees will participate in the general strike, which has been called by Coordination Committee of Central Trade Unions headed by Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) President G Sanjeeva Reddy," he said.

"This is going to be biggest strike that ever happened in recent years in this country as after 63 years all the trade unions have come together on a common platform," Dasgupta claimed.

All the "branches of economy" will be affected due to strike as workers from sectors including coal, power, telecom, banks, insurance, defence, port and dock, road transport, petroleum and construction will join the call, he said.

Trade unions earlier had drawn up a five-point charter "asking the government to curb the price rise but nothing was done," he charged.

 "The trade unions have been agitating against disinvestment of public sector. They (trade unions) are angry because labour laws are being violated," he said.

Trade unions want massive investment for social security for unorganised labourers. "We are also protesting against job loss and contractualisation of jobs in the country," he added.

Dasgupta said that the strike will not be the "last thing". If the situation does not improve, workers will march to Parliament in February next year.

"Trade unions cannot be marginalised. They must be heard. We want social justice, reasonable share of the wealth workers produce. That's all," he added.

BJP-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, has kept itself away from the strike call.

"BMS is not participating in the strike as it is politically motivated and not for the welfare of workers," vice president of Delhi unit of the union Kiran Dutta said.

Strike Hits Kolkata Flights

Airline carriers have indicated that Kolkata is likely to be the worst hit because of the 24-hour long all-India strike announced by central trade unions.

More than a 100 flights to and from Kolkata have been canceled by major carriers on Tuesday.

Jet Airways (along with its low cost carrier Jetlite) have cancelled 70 flights in all, Kingfisher has cancelled 29 and Spicejet and Indigo have canceled 20 flights each.

Air India has rescheduled several flights and there may be cancelations, depending on the situation on the ground on Tuesday. (With PTI inputs)

Source - NDTV

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/trade-unions-call-for-nationwide-bandh-today-over-100-flights-cancelled-in-kolkata-50088?cp