The nationwide one-day strike against the BJP-led Centre’s proposed changes in labour laws, which workers believe will put their jobs at risk, hit many parts of the State, but the overall response to the strike call, when compared to other parts of the country, can only be described as lukewarm.
In Tamil Nadu, The Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, which is part of the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), went on a one-hour strike at the premises of the Southern Railway zonal office here. According to AIRF’s working president N. Kanniah, “The current labour law protects both the organised and unorganised sectors workforce. However, the Central government wants to change it to please foreign investors.”
He also demanded that the government should consider their demands such as removal of bonus ceiling, opposition on FDI and privatisation of Railways, and implement the 7th Pay commission with effect from 1 January, 2014.
Those supporting the strike resorted to road roko in more than 280 places. Rail roko agitations were held and Railway tracks were blocked at 50 stations. A total of 25,000 people were arrested at various places and released later in the evening. Nearly 15,000 people staged demonstration and then dispersed, police sources said.
Some of the Central government establishments downed shutters. While some of them were functioning partially. The Income Tax office, which was quite busy over the last one week due to last minute filing of IT returns, wore a deserted look. “Some of the senior officials were working. But on the staff side attendance was poor,” there was a lean strength,” said a spokesperson in of the Income Tax department in Chennai.
A few banks were operating and some were functioning with minimal staff. C.H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), said that nearly 45,000 employees from various banks participated in the strike.
Nearly 14 lakh railway workers will go on an indefinite strike from November 23, if the Union government does not take back its proposed amendments to the labour law.
