Bharat Bandh: Nation-wide two-day trade union strike hits banking, transport services

Attendance in government offices was thin and educational institutions remained closed as pro-Left service and teachers unions joined the strike. Universities have cancelled examinations scheduled for the last two days.

The unions have put forward a charter of 10 demands such as urgent steps to control price rise, strict enforcement of labour laws in all places of work, social security net for workers in the unorganised sector, end to disinvestment in PSUs and raising minimum wage to Rs 10,000 a month.

However, the strike had no major impact in most parts of Karnataka.

Though banking services were hit, many buses, taxis and autos plied and shops remained opened. However, schools and colleges were closed.

Employees of banks and public sector organisations in Andhra Pradesh continued their protests on the second day of the strike.

In Tamil Nadu, banking and postal services remained affected while shops remained open and transport services plied normally.

Members of the protesting trade unions staged demonstrations in various parts of Chennai.

Though there were reports that some labour unions representing employees of Maruti Udyog at its plants in Manesar and Gurgaon had joined the strike along with Unions of HeroMotoCorp, workers of the company attended duty in the state.

According to Union representatives of Hyundai Motor India Employees and Ford Motor India, which has manufacturing facilities at Sriperumbudur and Maraimalai Nagar, they have decided to conduct a mass rally today in view of the strike.

Transaction of cheques worth of Rs 3000 crore in Chennai were affected while most of the ATMs of

... contd.