All India Workers Strike: Banks and Factories stalled in Tamil Nadu

All India workers strike called by six trade unions affected partially in Tamil Nadu. Bank Employees, Textiles Workers and Central government employees abstained from their work in the entire state on Tuesday.

Roko in front of Head Post Office in Madurai on Tuesday, in connection with all India general strike.

The day-long strike called by various trade unions against price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of PSUs evoked good response in Tamil Nadu but normal life remained unaffected because the police taken stiff action against the agitators.

However, flight services on the Chennai-Kolkata route were affected as six flights were canceled due to the strike in the Left-ruled state, airport sources told "Asian Tribune".

Buses and auto-rickshaws plied on the roads while shops and other commercial establishments remained open. No untoward incident has been reported from Chennai and elsewhere in the state, police said.

Train services operated as per schedule, Railway sources said.

All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) president Ch Venkatachalam said that apart from banks, postal employees, a section of state government employees and other PSUs were participating in the strike.

State government had warned of strict action against persons disturbing law and order and preventing others from going to work.

For the first time all trade unions including INTUC which is affiliated with Congress party were participating in the strike.

Meanwhile, Chennai Port Trust officials said that a section of employees owing allegiance to some unions were participating in the strike.

“But there may not be much impact on operations,” they said.

Workers affiliated to central trade unions went on a day-long industrial strike across the country to protest against price rise, alleged violation of labour laws and disinvestment in PSUs disrupting normal life in Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala.

Elsewhere, life remained unaffected by the strike, which comes two months after a nation-wide bandh called by BJP and Left parties against the UPA Government's economic policies and the spiralling prices.

Workers from sectors including coal, power, telecom, banks, insurance, defence, port and dock, road transport, petroleum and construction are participating in the countrywide strike under the banner of AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC and Congress-affiliated INTUC.

Bank employees, mainly belonging to public sector, cooperative and rural banks, joined the strike opposing FDI in the banking sector and grant of licences to private banks.

The strike disrupted flight operations and road transport and business and industries in West Bengal and Kerala.

The call for the strike was given by Coordination Committee of the Central Trade Unions of which INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy is the convener.

"Strike has begun all over the country. Those employed in private sector are also participating the strike in many places," AITUC general secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta said.
Normal life was hit in West Bengal and Kerala with air and road transport remaining disrupted in the wake of the strike call which took the shape of a bandh in the two Left-ruled states.

Flight operations to and from Kolkata were crippled as private airlines including Kingfisher, Indigo, Jet Airways and Spicejet together cancelled nearly 80 flights.

However, Air India sources in Kolkata said their flight operations remained normal with the airline operating eight flights in the morning after the strike began.

In Kerala, the strike was total in transport sector with buses, trucks and taxis keeping off the roads.

However, the protest did not affect public utilities like power and water supply. Trains were also running without any disruption.

- Asian Tribune -