Why 25 Crore Trade Union Workers Adopted the Strike Path?

The Country witnessed a sweeping nationwide strike on Wednesday as lakhs of workers, farmers, and trade union members gathered and organized rallies against the central government's economic and labour policies, terming them anti-worker and pro-corporate.

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Exempting the essential serviceslike hospitals, pharmacies, airports, and metro rail etc, on call of 10 central trade unions, over 25 crore workers across India adopted the path of strike to raise their voice and grievances against the adamant attitude of the central government on 9th July, as claimed by the union leaders. This nationwide strike impacted banking, insurance, transport, and more services.

The trade unions in a joint press release claimed that more than 25 crores participated in the Strike action/Rasta Roko/Rail Roko all over the country in the formal and informal sectors, in Government, Public sector enterprises, and industrial areas. There were very large mobilisations in rural India and also at block-sub-division levels by informal sector workers, agricultural labour and farmers and other sections of common people. Participation of students and youth was quite visible in many states. The ranks and file of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and joint front of Agricultural Labour Unions played a significant role in the mobilisation in rural India.

The protest stresses on the 17-point demand charter, submitted last year to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The trade unions claim that the government has failed to engage with their concerns and instead rushed through reforms that strip away labour protections, encourage privatisation, and intensify job insecurity.

Banking, Power, Transport, Railways and Education sectors have taken a hit across the country with their operations staying temporarily nonfunctional. Farmers have also joined the bandh.