Mangaluru: Protests and Bandhs are not something new- we see them every other day in India, and for that matter even in DK/Mangaluru. Yet another bandh will hit India/Mangaluru tomorrow,Wednesday, Sept 2. This time the nation-wide bandh will be observed against NDA government’s proposed Bills amending labour laws, the Contract Act, the Electricity Act and Factory Act. This would be the first nation-wide bandh which will be observed against Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, organized by BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, Public Sector Banks Union, Government-owned non-life Insurance Companies Union and many other trade unions.
The coordination committee of 11 central trade unions earlier in July had announced that workers would observe bandh on Sept 2. Protesting against BJP-led NDA government’s proposed amendments, the coordination committee had put forward 10-point demands to the Central Government. The trade unions also claimed that Modi government has been trying to violating labour laws. These amendments are aimed at mortgaging the interests of the working class in the hands of profit-making players and hence all trade unions opposed these Bills being brought in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Employees of public sector banks and government-owned non-life insurance companies are also supporting the Bandh to protest against the anti-trade union and worker policies of the central government. According to a bank employee, the unions in the non-life insurance sector are demanding early conclusion of wage negotiations, finalisation of the promotion policy and scrapping of outsourcing etc. There are increasing attacks on the rights and privileges of workers and concessions are being extended to the employers in our country. There are open attempts to amend labour laws in favour of the employers and to the detriment of the workers. The neo-liberal economic policies are only aggravating the problems of the workers and common masses.
14 unions in the banking sector have called for the strike. Speaking to mangalorean.com, a bank officer said, “In the banking sector, there are continuous attempts to push through the reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of banks and others. More and more private capital and foreign direct investments are being encouraged. Private sector companies are being given licences to begin banking business”.
People, who want to travel tomorrow (Sept 2, 2015), may face trouble as autos, buses will be off roads. Other than creating nuisance and inconvenience to the public, do you think one-day bandh will bring any changes or good results? Probably not!