Central trade unions firm on September 2 nationwide strike call

Dear Comrades,

RSS-affiliated BMS to meet Group of Ministers on August 22.

Central trade unions, except the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, on Friday reiterated their decision to strike work on September 2, 2016 in support of their long pending demands. 

A worried Narendra Modi government is engaged in talks with the BMS to dissuade its leaders not to be part of the strike as it would be a matter of embarrassment. The Group of Ministers led by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is scheduled to hold a meeting with BMS leaders on August 22. 

The trade unions had observed a similar strike on September 2, 2015 on a broad chapter of 12 demands in protest against what they had termed as “anti-people” policies of the Modi government. The BMS, which had initially agreed to the strike call, backed off in the last minute on the plea that the Centre had agreed to some of the demands and would hold talks on the remaining issues. 

The Centre had invited the BMS representatives for talks even as its national executive was to decide on whether or not to be part of the September 2, 2016 strike. The call for the strike is by all others trade unions and university and college teachers unions, Central government employees unions, who have their own grievances related to implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, are also mulling over the possibility of extending support to the strike. 

Last week, university and college teachers unions expressed support for the strike. Across the board support could make it one of the biggest strikes in recent memory unless the Centre steps in to buy peace. 

Last month the Union Labour Minister Bandaru Datttreya had met representatives of the central trade unions for an interactive session. Though he himself referred to the forthcoming general strike the Minister made no commitment on the 12-point charter. 

“The Minister said nothing on our charter of demands. We are firm on the strike,” general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress Gurudas Dasgupta had told The Hindu after the Minister’s conference. 

NEW DELHI, August 20, 2016

Source : http://www.thehindu.com