Farmers Movement Archive

State trade unions, bank staff to join strike today

PATNA: All trade unions and organisations, bank employees, farmers, masons, auto-drivers and daily wagers among others across Bihar will take part in the nationwide strike today called by 10 central trade unions, to protest against the Centre’s ‘anti-labour’ policies. The associations are demanding a roll-back of the new labour enactments by dismantling the 27 existing laws in the name of ease of doing business and also scrapping of the three new farm laws passed by the Centre. “Over 1 lakh farmers from across the state will protest by organising dharna, roadblock and led-march against the Centre’s policies,” said Ashok Singh, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha- Bihar. Over 40,000 bank employees under the banner of Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and Bihar Provincial Gramin Bank Employees Association (BPGBEA) will join the protest. B Prasad, president of BEFI and BPGBEA told this newspaper that all commercial banks, Gramin banks, regional banks would remain closed on Thursday. “No banking activities (deposit or withdrawal) will take place on November 26. We will start the march from the UCO bank general office at Maurya Lok to Gandhi Maidan via Dak Bungalow and Exhibition road, urged the banking employees to join the protest. All ATMs of the bank branch will also remain closed,” he said. The strike is also supported by the All India Bank Employees’ Association and the Bihar Provincial Bank Employees Association (except State Bank of India Staff Association). The auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers have also decided to keep off the roads in the state. Employees involved in loading and unloading of parcels in railways and sanitation workers have also expressed their solidarity with the strike and protest under the banner of All India Railway Contract Workers Union. Raj Kumar Jha, general secretary of Bihar State Auto-Chalak Sangh said only a few auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws would run on some routes for health emergencies due to the Covid- 19 pandemic, however, most of the public transport would remain off the road. “Under the banner of All India Road Transport Workers Association, Bihar, we will stop the train at Meethapur rail line,” he said. Chandra Prakash Singh, president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)- Bihar said all the labourers and employees of civic bodies, masons among others will join the protest.

The Times of India

2020-11-26

Patna