Bharat Bandh: Trade Unions Begin Two-Day Nationwide Strike, Essential Services Likely To Be Impacted

As a result of the two-day nationwide Bharat Bandh, some of the essential services including banking, transportation, railways, and electricity are likely to be impacted today and tomorrow.

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New Delhi: A joint forum of central trade unions has declared a Bharat Bandh on March 28 and 29, and bank employees are intending to join the protest against government policies that impact workers, farmers, and people. As a result of the two-day nationwide Bharat Bandh declared by the joint forum of central unions, some of the essential services including banking, transportation, railways, and electricity are likely to be impacted today and tomorrow, according to media reports. 

All Indian Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told news agency PTI that a participation of over 20 crore formal and informal workers with mass mobilisation of workers across the country is expected during the strike. "We are expecting participation of over 20 crore formal and informal workers with mass mobilisation of workers across the country during the strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against government policies," she said. 

Kaur added that the strike is expected to hit the rural parts also, where informal workers of farming and other sectors will join the protest, a PTI report said. Workers’ unions of various sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks and insurance had given the strike notices.

According to the statement from Trade Unions, unions in the railroads and defence sectors would mobilise in support of the strike in tens of thousands of locations. The trade union further stated that despite the approaching danger of ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) in Haryana and Chandigarh, highways, transportation employees, and power workers had opted to join the strike. When ESMA is triggered, any strike is prohibited.

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) are some of the trade unions which are part of the joint forum.

Scrapping of the proposed changes in labour laws, privatisation of any form and the national monetisation pipeline are some of the demands of the unions. Other demands include increased allocation of wages under MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and regularisation of contract workers.

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) said that it will participate in the countrywide general strike to oppose growing unemployment, lower pay, privatisation of public sector banks, and the Banking Laws Amendment Bill 2021, among other problems.

“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. 

The Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and the All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) are among the central unions that have joined the protest. The State Bank of India (SBI) has issued a similar notification, stating that due to the bank strike, its services may be affected on the days specified.

“We advise that while the bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices on the days of strike, it is likely that work in our bank may be impacted to a limited extent, by the strike,” the SBI said in a statement.  

Insurance sector unions, like the banking sector, have expressed their support for the Bandh.

Despite demands from several trade unions for a 48-hour countrywide strike/bandh on March 28 and 29, all West Bengal state government offices would stay open and employees would report to work on those days.

How Will Power Suppy Be Affected?

On March 27, the Union Ministry of Power advised all the state-run utilities and other agencies to be on high alert and ensure round-the-clock electricity supply and stability of the national grid. "The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have called for a nationwide strike with effect from 06:00 hrs of March 28 to 06:00 hrs of March 30, 2022," an advisory issued by the ministry said.

The Ministry of Power issued the advisory to all states, central public sector undertakings, central electricity authority, national load dispatch centre and regional load dispatch centres.

The ministry said that in the interest of the consumers of electricity, it is advised that all the power utilities shall take necessary measures to ensure round-the-clock functioning of the electricity grid and availability of all plants, transmission lines and substations. It added that all regional and state control room executives should be vigilant and on high alert.

Some suggestions by the ministry include the fact that measures must be taken to ensure secure and reliable grid operations. The ministry said that shutdown activities planned during March 28 and 29 may be rescheduled to suitable future dates to the extent possible.

The ministry asked all concerned officials to ensure close supervision of their regional network/control area. It said that manpower may be deployed at all critical substations/power stations 24X7 to handle any emergency situation.

The ministry added that power supply to those engaged in essential services such as hospitals, defence, and railways must be ensured, anf suggested setting up of a 24x7 control room for information dissemination and handling any kind of contingency.

Impact On Banking Services

The bank employees of unions have said they will support the strike. According to the PTI report, AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said that the union demands the government to stop privatisation of public sector banks and strengthen them. 

Other demands include the speedy recovery of loans, higher deposit rates by banks, lower service charges on customers as well as restoration of old pension schemes for staff.

AIBEA, BEFI and AIBOA have served notices to go on strike on March 28 and 29, New Delhi-headquartered Punjab National Bank (PNB) said. 

PNB said that while the bank has made all arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices, “it is likely that work in our bank may be impacted to a limited extent by the strike”. 

Bengaluru-based Canara Bank said that in order to ensure smooth functioning of bank branches and offices, it is taking all necessary steps. Canara Bank, however, added that the functioning of the bank may be impacted. 

Private lender RBL Bank said that it will take all necessary steps for smooth functioning of the bank's branches and offices on the days of strike. “However, it is likely that some of our branches would also be impacted by the strike," RBL added. 

(With PTI Inputs)