Workers across India to strike work tomorrow

Despite government’s warning to its employees for not to participate in the proposed nationwide strike on February 28, the central government employees backed trade unions are determined to go ahead with it, giving it the shape as the largest trade union call in recent times. HT reports. Bengal govt, CPI-M cross swords | Normal bank services may get affected

Despite government’s warning to its employees for not to participate in the proposed nationwide strike on February 28, the central government employees backed trade unions are determined to go ahead with it, giving it the shape as the largest trade union call in recent times.

Citing the instructions of the department of Personnel & Training, several ministries have issued circulars prohibiting its employees from participating in the strike.

Protesting against price rise, violation of labour laws, disinvestment of profitable public sector undertakings and demanding better wages among others, 11 central trade unions have given call for the strike on February 28.

Cutting across party lines, the strike will be participated by the employees from banks, insurance, telecom, transport, mines, central government employees etc.

Apart from major issues and demands, the issue of corruption has also taken the centre-stage in the strike.

“This is going to be a major trade union movement and along with other major issues, we are also concerned about rampant corruption in the country,” Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and general secretary of

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Gurudas Dasgupta told HT. Opposing downsizing, outsourcing, privatization of jobs, demanding compassionate appointments, removal of ceiling on bonus and filling up vacant posts, more than 50,000 income tax (I-T) employees in the country will participate in the strike. The Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) in the recently concluded national conference decided to participate in the strike. It has demanded filling up of long-pending 10,000 vacant posts.

“Government should control the biggest challenge of price rise, as it has increased corruption,” said ITEF additional secretary, Ashok Kumar Kanojia.

More than 8 lakh bank employees backed by seven unions will join the strike.

“We have been demanding the government that banks should take strong measures for recovery of bad loans and punish the willful and corrupt defaulters,” said national joint secretary, All India Bank employees Association, VK Sharma.

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