NEW DELHI, December 3, 2011Trade unions call strike for February 28
Eleven major trade unions have called a nationwide general strike for February 28, a day before the Union budget for 2012-13 is presented in Parliament, demanding steps to curb the soaring prices of essential items, to protect employment and to enforce the labour laws strictly.
Interestingly, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), affiliated to the Congress, the Labour Progressive Front (LPF) of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a major ally of the ruling UPA, and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) of the Bharatiya Janata Party, will also join
the strike.
Hartal against policies
This is the first time since Independence that trade unions have got together to call a ‘hartal' against the policies of the Central government, said All-India Trade Union Congress general secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta, a signatory to the resolution adopted at a joint meeting of trade unions recently.
The agitation would also highlight the cause of those in the unorganised sector and press for the enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act, the removal of the ceiling on bonus and pension and assured pension for all classes of employees.