Trade Unions’ Nationwide Strike hits Normal Life in Odisha

Several central trade unions have called for a “Bharat Bandh”–one-day nationwide strike on Friday. All major unions, except RSS-associated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh BMS have joined the strike avoiding the central government’s assurances to look into their demands. They have termed the government’s recent announcements for two-year bonus and hike in minimum wage as inadequate.

In Odisha, normal life came to a standstill in many parts of the state today due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by central trade unions protesting the government’s “indifference” towards their demands and effecting “anti-worker” changes in labour laws.

The State Trade Unions leaders of the CPI, CPM, CPI(ML), SUCI and Forward Bloc are extending their support to the national strike called by Central trade unions.

Their demand remains the monthly minimum wage of Rs 18,000 and enhanced pension not less than 3,000 rupees per month for the entire working population and stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs.

Agitating members of various trade unions are staging road blockades by picketing and also resorting to rail roko at many stations across the state.

The capital city of Bhubaneswar bore deserted look since this morning.