Bharat Bandh on March 28-29: These services may be hit
What's the story
A joint forum of central trade unions has declared a Bharat Bandh on March 28 and 29 against the Centre's policies that affect the workers, farmers, and the public, too. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) has announced on Facebook that it will participate in the nationwide strike. As a result, banking services are likely to be disrupted on Monday and Tuesday.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The announcement of the strike came after a meeting of the joint platform of central trade unions on March 22. After reviewing preparations, the unions declared the strike against the Centre's "anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people, and anti-national policies." Bank employees are also joining the protest because of increased unemployment, wage cuts, privatization of public-sector banks, and the Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2021, among other issues.
Unions
Several central unions join the strike
Other central unions, such as the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and the All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), have also joined the nationwide strike. "The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions have to take the frontline and decisive role to build towering resistance to this destructive and disastrous corporate-driven regime," the AIBEA said in a statement.
Information
Who else will join the strike?
Workers from other industry sectors, including coal, steel, oil, telecommunications, postal, income tax, copper, and insurance, are also expected to join the strike. The railways and defense sector unions would also mass mobilize to support the strikes at several locations, said reports. The State Bank of India (SBI) has also issued a notice stating that its services may be disrupted on the specified dates.
Development
West Bengal government issues memorandum against the strike
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has issued a memorandum stating all of its offices will remain open during the strike while mandating its employees to report for duty. "All state government offices...shall remain open and all the employees shall report for duty on those days," it said. Employees' absence will be regarded as "dies non" and salary will not be admissible, the government added.