Nationwide General Strike on Jan 8 – 9 may Disrupt Public Life in Udupi District
Udupi: The two-day nationwide general strike on January 8 and 9 called by central trade unions against the alleged repressive policies for workers adopted by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is expected to disrupt commuting within Udupi District and other places as various transport association workers have decided to join the strike.
The strike has been mainly called demanding the withdrawal of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2017, to protect the transport sector business and demanding the implementation of social security act for unorganised labourers.
Ten major trade unions—including the All India Trade Union Congress, CITU, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), SEWA and LPF—have called for the two-day general strike to protest against what they describe as the anti-worker and anti-trade union policies of the Narendra Modi government.
Services by all state-run transport corporations KSRTC may be affected as the major trade union, AITUC backed KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation have extended the support to the Bandh. Private schools and government offices are expected to remain closed in view of the bandh.
Autorickshaw unions too have extended their support to the strike. Thus, autorickshaws plying on the roads is also doubtful. Taxi owners have also have extended their support. Ola and Uber too are unlikely to render services for two days.
With transport being hit, schools and colleges are likely to be closed. The deputy commissioners of each district have been given the right to take a call on the declaration of a holiday.
Emergency services like hospitals, ambulance service, medical shops, milk booths will be open.
According to Canara Bus owner’s Association, they do not support the nationwide general strike on January 8 and 9 called by central trade unions. Bus services in the district may be affected if there are any obstacles for traffic movement on that day, they said.
Banking services are also likely to be affected on January 8-9 as a section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions.
According to CITU leader, the Narendra Modi Govt failed to fulfill the promise of creating over 1 crore jobs a year has been an important reason cited by the trade unions for organising the strike against the Modi government. According to Labour Bureau statistics, 1.55 lakh jobs and 2.31 lakh jobs were created in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Adding fuel to the fire, a large number of small-scale industries were shut down. Over 2 lakh small-scale industries have been shut down. A unit can consist of between 50 and 300 employees. People, who already had jobs, lost a way to earn because of this,” they said.
“We are not happy with the policies of the government. These policies are anti-working class, pro-capital but not in favour of employees. The implementation of GST has further compounded the hardships. Even essential and lifesaving medicines have been subject to hefty GST,” they said.