Trade unions strike on July 9th, BJP opposes, all govt offices to remain open

As millions of bank workers across India are set to participate in a nationwide strike on Wednesday along with a forum of 10 central trade unions, in Tripura, ruling BJP vehemently opposed the strike called by opposition trade unions and appealed to the people to boycott the strike call.

While, the state government through a notification issued an order for normal functioning of all government departments, undertakings and offices on Wednesday.

The notification issued by the General Administration (AR) department of the state government  asked all top officials to disseminate the information to all employees under their jurisdiction and a report regarding employee attendance on Wednesday, must be submitted to the General Administration department by 12 noon through email.

Meanwhile, CITU leaders during a press conference appealed to the people of the state to make total the July 9th general strike in Tripura along with other parts of the country.

In support of the opposition trade unions call the nation-wide general strike on July 9 to press for repealing of the anti-worker amendments to 29 labour laws and four newly-introduced labour codes, the opposition CPI (M) on Wednesday also appeals to people to make the strike a total to protect their democratic rights.

They said that all trade and farmers unions including CITU called the nationwide general strike on July 9 in protest against the anti-people policies of the central government, and its stance against workers, farmers, and agricultural laborers, including the demand to repeal the labor code.

Sources said that the strike, initiated by a forum of 10 central trade unions, may not disrupt the services of sectors including banking, insurance, postal, construction, and the regional transport network across the state.

But, the banking services may be disrupted across India on Wednesday, as major bank unions are preparing to join the nationwide general strike and overall the strike will not have major impact in Tripura as trade unions associates with ruling BJP have already opposed the strike and they asked all market committees to maintain general trade and services across the state.

The public sector bank warned its customers that banking services at its branches across the nation may be affected if the strike happens.

The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), and the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) are among the unions that called the nationwide strike.

Meanwhile, General Secretaries of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) informed the Indian Banks Association about the strike on July 9.

The unions demand that the government take immediate steps to address their issues, including filling up the vacant sanctioned posts, creating more employment opportunities, increasing MNREGA workdays and increasing wage increments.

The strike was earlier scheduled for May but was postponed due to national events.

The forum in a statement urged workers to make "the nationwide general strike a grand success". It had last year submitted a charter of 17-point demands to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandavia, the workers' union forum said in its latest statement.