Trade unions call 24-hour strike on Tuesday
Eight major trade unions, including those of the Left and the ruling Congress, will hold a national strike Tuesday to protest against price rise, violation of labour laws and privatization.
"It would be a 24-hour-long general strike," said M.K. Pandhe, a leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
"It is an industrial shutdown," Pandhe told IANS.
The Communist-affiliated All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) and the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) are taking part in the strike.
The workers' main demands are:
- Contain price rise of essential commodities
- Take pro-active measures to link employment protection in recession hit sectors
- Strictly enforce all basic labour laws without any exception
- Announce Rs.50,000 crore for an unorganised workers' social security fund
- Stop disinvestment in central public sector enterprises
