Govt's appeal fails, TUs on strike today

Public services such as banking, transport and postal department are likely to be hit on Wednesday as 10 central trade unions go on a one-day nationwide strike. The unions are going ahead with the strike despite the government's appeal that they call it offeven as the government appealed to them to take back the call in national interest.

Labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the strike will not have much impact on essential services. "I appeal to them to call off the strike in the interest of workers and nation," said labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya. "I don't think essential services will be affected. I feel that the impact will not be much. BMS and National Front of Indian Trade Unions are not in strike. There are 2-4 organisations (unions) which are neutral. 

"He added that the government will continue talks with the unions as the "workers' rights and interests are supreme to us". , and that the government is in touch with all state governments, PSUs, public transport departments and other agencies to ensure that people don't suffer. 

The unions said 15 crore workers under their banner will be on strike against the government's proposed "anti-worker" labour reforms. (For the full report, log on to www.timesofindia.com BJP-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which opted out of the strike, said power, oil and gas supplies will not be affected as a large number of public sector workers would not participate in the day-long agitation. He said the government had responded positively to nine of the 12 demands and there was consensus on 4-5 of them. 

"There are many initiatives including mandatory minimum wages and raising ceiling of bonus and social security of workers which were appreciated by the unions," Dattatreya said. 

He said labour reforms are at a discussion stage and even the Prime Minister had assured that it would be done on the basis of tripartite consultations. 

The trade unions have given the strike call over a 12-point charter of demands, including withdrawal of the proposed anti-worker amendments in labour laws and stopping disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs. 
The BMS decided to pull out, arguing that the government should be given more time to honour its assurances given during their meeting with a group of ministers. 

Source:-The Times of India