The 10 central trade unions — including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) and Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)— have called a strike that started at midnight. This is being termed as one of the biggest coordinated strikes, with participation expected from 25 crore employees/workers.
The protestors are demanding withdrawal of agricultural reforms and labour reforms by the Union government. They want the Industrial Relations Code bill 2020, the Code on Social Security bill 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code bill 2020 to be withdrawn.
Work at government offices, banking services, post and telegraph services, railways, oil and natural gas production facilities, financial services, transport services, steel units, ports, telecommunication services, plantations, power-generating units, coal and other mines, and so on will be badly affected today.
The strike has been called to protest against the policies of the Central government. Lakhs of Anganwadi workers/helpers — most of them women — healthcare workers, mid-day meal cooks and those employed in other government-run schemes are also joining the strike.
Farmers from across India are readying to join in even though measures have been taken to seal highways and stop agitating farmers from entering Delhi to demonstrate near the Parliament on November 26 and 27.
