After the recent Taxi and Auto strike, it’s time for Bharat Bandh today as Trade Unions around the country go on strike demanding their rights. According to India.com ‘as many as 15 crore workers of government and private sectors will go on strike on September 2. Trade unions have given the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’, following which banks, factories, insurance companies and many government offices are likely to be closed.

Services of sectors including, electricity, transport, mining, defence, telecom and insurance will be affected due to Bharat Bandh call of trade unions. Daily commuters are expected to face problem as public transport services will also be non functioning. However, train services won’t be affected as Railway employees have so far not indicated whether they will join the strike or not. Trade unions strike is going to affect normal life on Friday.’

What do the unions want? 

Indian Express reported that ‘the unions are demanding social security for workers and minimum wage of not less than Rs. 18,000 per month. They also want assured enhanced pension not less than 3,000 per month for all sectors, including unorganised workers. They also want FDI to be removed from railways, defence and other “strategic sectors”.  Since September last year, the unions have been urging for 12 major demands, which also includes raising the minimum wage of workers. They have also expressed their disapproval at the government’s recent loosening of foreign direct investment in sector such as defence and insurance, where their primary concern is that national security might be compromised.’

How has the government response been? 

As expected, non-committal. The response of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley regarding the trade union strike was also reported by Indian express which stated that ‘Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the government has accepted the advisory board recommendations and raised the minimum wage from Rs 246 to Rs 350 per day for non-agricultural workers. He announced on Tuesday said that Central Government employees will get their two years bonus, which has been pending for some time now.

The Centre has decided to write to all states regarding compliance of contract workers law, added Jaitley. While accepting the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the Centre doubled the minimum wage to Rs 18,000. The trade unions have been demanding much higher than the figure proposed by the government.’ Even after the promises have been made, the trade unions have not shown any signs of cancelling their strike. Reports suggested that the trade union CITU said that the hike in minimum wages for non-agricultural workers from Rs. 112 a day to Rs. 350 is a “mockery” of workers.

Which sectors will be most affected? 

One India listed all the things a common man can expect tomorrow through bullet points. Their report said, ‘these unions claim a combined membership of 15 crore workers in public and private sector enterprises, including banks and insurance companies, so the strike will definitely affect the functioning of essential services such as transport and supply of power, gas and oil. Services of sectors including electricity, transport, mining, defence, telecom and insurance will be affected. Banks, government offices and factories will most likely be closed on Friday. Public transport services will also be affected as many autorickshaw unions in cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru have decided to keep off the roads on Friday.’ Mumbai’s transport unions have not clearly indicated whether or not they will be partaking in this strike tomorrow.

Which services will continue unhindered? 

Trains services are unlikely to be affected as Railway employees have so far not indicated whether they will join the strike or not. Schools and colleges have so far not declared holiday officially. It is upto local authorities and institutions to decide on the matter. Supply of essential commodities, milk and water, however, will not be affected. Medical shops will remain open, as they have been exempted from the strike call. Other services, including entertainment services will continue as per usual so if you want to hit the town you shouldn’t have a problem as long as you’re willing to risk a shortage of transport.

In a nutshell? 

Around the same time last year, there was a nation-wide strike by the same trade unions. Iamin had reported in about the probable situation last year for the city of Mumbai and stated that ‘around 11 trade unions have announced that their intention to strike. According to a release from All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), all services, apart from the railways, will be shut including transport, civil aviation, banks and oil-gas supply companies.’

West Bengal cannot afford to go on strike. According to a report by ibtimes.com, WB CM Mamata Banerjee has asked employees to report to work today. Ibtimes stated that, “Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has opposed the strike and directed all employees to report to work on Sept. 2, adding that all vehicles would ply and shops would remain open.

“We are against bandh. A bandh means loss of thousands of crores of rupees a day. Those who lost the election and those who were rejected by the people have called the bandh which will harm people... We will keep everything open. Vehicles will ply and shops will open. If vehicles and shops are damaged (by bandh supporters), we will take strong action. We will also give compensation,” Banerjee told reporters, adding that the state cannot afford a bandh when it is under a debt of Rs. 40,000 crore.”

Feature Image Courtesy: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue