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India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Nationwide strike hits Himachal: Workers, farmers and bank employees rally in Shimla against labour codes, privatisation, and exploitation
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 9 (ANI): As part of the nationwide strike called by central trade unions and farmer organisations, workers across Himachal Pradesh joined protests at district and block headquarters, bringing public services to a near halt in several areas, including the state capital, Shimla. Braving heavy rains, hundreds of workers, including sanitation staff, health workers, bank employees, and anganwadi and midday meal workers, participated in demonstrations demanding the rollback of new labour codes, an end to privatisation, and implementation of long-pending demands. Speaking to ANI, Vijender Mehra, President of the Himachal Pradesh unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said the nationwide bandh was jointly called by ten central trade unions, including CITU, public sector federations, and dozens of farmers' organisations. 'This strike is being observed nationwide against the anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies of the Modi government. In Himachal Pradesh, too, workers have stopped work completely. Even at IGMC, the largest hospital in the state, employees have joined the strike, impacting OPD services,' Mehra said. 'No garbage has been collected today as all municipal workers are on strike. Street vendors are also off the roads. Even workers in tourism-dependent hotels in Shimla have joined the bandh,' he added. Workers from anganwadi centres, midday meal kitchens, sewage treatment plants, and industrial units staged protests across the state. 'Just as the Modi government tried to hand over agriculture to corporates with the three farm laws, it is now trying to push workers into modern-day slavery through the four labour codes,' Mehra said. 'These codes allow 12-hour shifts instead of 8, reduce the role of the Labour Department, restrict the right to strike, and will cut 8 days' pay for a one-day strike,' he warned. 'This is a corporate-driven programme. Five or six corporate houses, Ambani, Adani, Tata, Birla, and Mahindra, have captured 30 per cent of India's wealth. The Modi government is entirely aligned with their interests,' he said. Mehra said around 17,000 families in Himachal had been displaced from their homes and farmlands due to various infrastructure projects and encroachments. 'National Highways and hydro projects are damaging local homes and farms, destroying land and jobs. These projects serve the interests of corporations, not local communities. That's why we are protesting,' he said. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) also participated in the strike, with employees from nationalised banks, LIC, and GIC joining the protest. Narinder Sharma, Convenor of the United Bank Workers and Officers Union of Himachal Pradesh, has warned that millions of rupees of public money may be shifted to private hands. 'Our union includes four officers' unions and five workers' unions, representing 100 percent of manpower in the Indian banking sector. We participated in this collective strike along with other trade unions on key demands, particularly opposing the privatisation of public sector banks and insurance companies,' he said. 'The government should not reduce its stake in banks below 80 per cent. If it does, it will open the path to full privatisation. This is a direct threat to the financial sovereignty of the country,' Sharma said. 'Labour codes are being used to remove long-standing protections affecting working hours, wages, and service conditions. Public sector banks have played a major role in India's growth and upliftment of the middle class; now this legacy is being dismantled,' he said. 'There is Rs 140 lakh crore of public money deposited in these banks. If privatised, the risk to public trust and security will be enormous,' he added. Thousands of grassroots health workers and Anganwadi employees also participated in the protest. Himi Devi, President of the Himachal Pradesh Skilled and ASHA Workers Union, has warned of an aggressive protest if their demands are not fulfilled. 'For the past 23 years, ASHA workers have been delivering vital health services in Himachal Pradesh, yet they remain underpaid and unrecognised. The government pays just Rs 150 for a delivery case it's an insult to our work,' she said. 'Similarly, anganwadi workers, who have served the state for over four decades, are now being pushed aside. Instead of regularising them, the government is closing centres and shifting children to under-resourced government schools,' Himi Devi said. She pointed out the dire situation of midday meal workers as well. '2,13,000 workers across India are feeding over 5.32 lakh children. But for 16 years, the Centre has paid just Rs 1,000 a month to these workers. How can anyone survive on this?' she asked. 'The High Court has twice ruled that midday meal workers should be paid for all 12 months, but that hasn't been implemented,' she added. 'Also, the condition that an anganwadi needs at least 25-26 children to remain operational is unreasonable in hilly states like Himachal, where population density is low. The unique geography of the state must be considered,' she demanded. 'Today's protest is just a token strike. But if our demands continue to be ignored, we will launch an indefinite agitation until the government responds,' Himi Devi warned. (ANI)
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trade union protests held across the city in view of nationwide call for strike
Normal life in the city remained largely unaffected despite central trade unions staging protests in several parts of city in view of a nationwide strike call in protest against the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings(PSUs) among others. However, traffic was affected on arterial roads such as Anna Salai and in Guindy, Ambattur and Thiruvottriyur. A large number of members and leaders from Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC),All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), HMS, Labour Progressive Federation and others gathered near Head Post Office on Anna Salai. They indulged in sloganeering against the BJP- led central government and its anti-labour policies. They squatted on the arterial road and continued their protests. The protest resulted in heavy traffic congestion from Anna Statue to Anna Flyover. Police arrested over 800 protestors from the avenue and detained them. Explaining the charter of demands, CITU state president said the central government has been functioning with ulterior policy of retrenchment, laying off, introducing contract system in the place of permanent posts and alleged that they have framed new labour code which is anti-labour to achieve ulterior motive. He said the new Farm Acts introduced by the present central government should be withdrawn and the central government should keep the promises given to the farmers. Similar protests held at LIC head office in Anna Salai, near post office in Guindy, railway station in Korukkupet, Maraimalai Nagar, Thiruvottriyur, Ennore and Manali. Heavy traffic was witnessed on Avadi High Road when the police arrested the protesting trade unionists near Ambattur Uzhavar Sandhai. Offices of Income Tax Department, LIC, and central government establishments witnessed poor attendance in view of the strike.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Bandh: Brawl between police and protesters in Ramanathapuram
A brawl erupted between protesters and police during a picket organised by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) as part of Bharat Bandh here on Wednesday. The protesters organised a picket outside the head post office and raised a slew of demands including revocation of contentious four labour laws, filling of existing vacancies and dropping of privatisation plans of public sectors and workers' outsourcing practice. M. Sivaji, CITU district secretary, said their demands included fixing a minimum wage of ₹26,000 a month and a minimum pension of ₹9,000 a month. Other demands included declaring the jobs of ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers permanent as their roles were important. 'The workers by being a medium between society and government have strengthened rural health care and childcare to an unimaginable level,' he added. When their jobs themselves were precarious, how would they think of delivering fair and sincere work, Mr. Sivaji said. As the system of contractual labour was being taken up in almost all sectors, the protection of unorganised workers was indispensable. 'Only by constituting a central finance commission would the unorganised workers be safeguarded. Despite laws mandating job protection to the labours, none of the employers have taken that seriously,' he noted. 'To protect farmers and agricultural produce, the government should fix a decent minimum support price for the produces. Only by securing a good return for farmers, the intrusion of corporates and middlemen into agriculture sector can be controlled,' he stated. Also, he condemned the unbecoming behaviour of the police against protesters who attempted to hold a peaceful protest. During the brawl, Mr. Sivaji experienced suffocation and was taken to a hospital for treatment. More than 500 protesters in different places such as Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, Thiruvadanai, Sikkal, Kamuthi and Mudukulathur were detained by the police and were later released in the evening. The Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) staged a separate demonstration raising similar demands.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Bandh: Trade union members arrested while attempting to block trains
As part of the nation-wide strike trade unions in Madurai on Wednesday went on a strike outside the railway station. Close to 1,000 protesters of various workers' unions like Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Marumalarchi Labour Front (MLF), All Indian Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Staff Federation (TTSF), took part in the march and protest. The rally which started from Kattabomman statue on RMS road went on till railway station. Protesters sat on the road and raised various demands like revocation of four labour laws, assurance for minimum wage, among others. R. Lenin, CITU, district secretary, said that the protest organised as part of the Bharat Bandh was to stress the workers' demand for a better livelihood. 'As the BJP-led Union government through their continuous laws and orders have acted against the welfare of the working-class people in all sectors starting from agriculture, transport, education, among others,' he added. In addition, the move towards privatisation of key sectors like railways, airport, health, education, has not only deteriorated the quality, but has also alienated the common from accessing the services, Mr. Lenin noted. The key changes, though affected every single person in the nation, have also dragged on the progress of society as a whole. The inflation which has increased the price of every essential product, the buying capacity of the public has drastically been affected, he observed. Charging the BJP government not caring the keep the prices of petrol under control, he noted that even when the global price was lower, the Indian government could not think of its citizens. The protesters also asked for a national-level welfare board for unorganised workers to ensure a decent wage and job security for them. As they tried to block the road, police arrested the protesters and detained them. They were later released in the afternoon. In two separate events, Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation (JACTO-GEO) and All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) staged protests against privatisation of education and demanding protection of public sectors respectively.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CPM workers threaten to burn down fish shop in Kerala amid Bharat Bandh: report
The Bharat Bandh called by central trade unions on Wednesday saw widespread disruption and scattered violence in Kerala, with public transport suspended and shops shut down forcibly. CITU workers take part in a protest in Kerala (CITU Kerala) According to a Janmbhumi report, in Kozhikode's Mukkam, a particularly disturbing incident unfolded when protest supporters, led by T Viswanathan — a CPM district secretariat member and CITU state committee member — allegedly threatened to set fire to a fish shop if it remained open. Witnesses claim they threatened to pour kerosene and burn it down, forcing the shop to shut. Similar pressure tactics were reported across the state, including the forced closure of a mall as police allegedly looked on. Buses blocked in Kerala A report in Manorama stated that protesters blocked Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses in Kochi and Kollam. People associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) reportedly stopped a bus making its way to Amrita Hospital in Kollam. In the constituency of Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, who had assured regular KSRTC bus services, strike supporters blocked vehicles and halted operations. Long-distance buses, including services from Bengaluru, were also disrupted. A food stall at the Kozhikode KSRTC stand was shut down amid rising tensions. Kumar had earlier said that buses would operate as usual on July 9, the day of the strike. This was rejected by CITU leader and convener of ruling Left Democratic Front T P Ramakrishnan, reported the Indian Express. Ramakrishnan said that bus drivers would have to take part in the strike. What is this nationwide strike about? A joint forum of 10 central trade unions has been staging a Bharat bandh, or a nationwide strike, since Wednesday morning in protest against the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs among others. Left parties' trade unions are staging a 'Bharat Bandh', alleging that the central government is pushing economic reforms that weaken workers' rights, as per PTI. The forum of ten central trade unions and their associates, which include, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), HMS, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) are participating in the nation-wide protest.
