Mumbai unaffected in nationwide strike

Bank employees take out a rally at Azad Maidan in support of a nationwide strike called by trade unions, in Mumbai. (Photo: Debasish Dey)

Even as trade unions claimed that the one-day nationwide strike on Friday was successful, it did not affect the state’s financial capital’s lifeline, because suburban trains, auto-rickshaws, taxis and city buses continued to operate normally. However, there was poor presence of employees in banks, post offices and government offices. Overall, the response to the strike was better in rural Maharashtra. The strike was called by left-wing parties and trade unions, demanding a minimum pension of '12,000 for workers and raising of retirement age to 60 among others.

Yogiraj Khonde, the president of the State Government Employees’ Confederation, claimed that 100 per cent government employees participated in the strike, which is why government offices remained empty. However, in Mantralaya, which has 7,000 employees, officials reported for duty while employees participated in the strike and, hence, the administrative centre was seen to be empty. Mr Khonde apologised for the difficulties people faced in availing milk, hospital and school services owing to the strike.

CPI(M) leader Ashok Dhawle said, “Our activists staged a rasta roko in Thane and Nashik districts,” and claimed that there was an “overwhelming” response to the stir in industrial belts of the state. He added that several government employees too stayed away from work.

All India Banks Employees Association general secretary Vishwas Utagi had said that the entire financial sector would get paralysed on Friday with all banks, except SBI, on strike. The LIC, NABARD and GIC, among others, would also participate in the strike, he had said.

On its part, the government asked all ministries to ensure that public utilities and essential services were not affected. Secretaries of all departments were asked to take effective measures for smooth running of various services coming under their respective ministries. On Thursday, labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had blamed the former UPA government for issues faced by workers and said that the NDA government did not want a confrontation with labour unions.