The two-day nationwide strike, started from Wednesday by a united front of 14 trade unions in protest against implementation of anti-employee policies, evoked widespread response in Madhya Pradesh on the second day on Thursday.
Work was severely affected in nationalised banks, the insurance sector, telecommunications, ordnance factories in Jabalpur and Itarsi.
Work in collieries, the National Thermal Power Company (NTPC), post offices, city-based Bharat Heavy Electricals limited and central Government offices was also affected in all districts.
The front's State unit bandh called in 20 cities and towns including the State capital, did not have much impact on daily life. The trade unions took out processions at various places and shouted slogans against the Centre.
Front’s spokesman Pushan Bhattacharya claimed, "A 90 per cent strike was observed in the insurance sector, banks, collieries, telecommunications,
defence production, NTPC and Central Government offices. The strike was nearly successful in the unorganised sector as labourers, anganwadi workers and beedi workers participated."
Contractual labourers of various industries also took part in the two-day strike.
"Employees brought out processions and conducted meetings in Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna, Sagar, Bhopal, Ujjain, Ratlam, Neemuch, Nagda, Balaghat, Shahdol and other places. The impact was widespread in the industrial areas Pithampur, Malanpur and Mandideep," Bhattacharya added.
United Forum of Bank Unions convenor Sanjeev Mishra and coordinator VK Sharma claimed that
following a clarion call by unions of nationalised banks more than 40,000 employees across 5,800 branches participated in the strike affecting business of approximately Rs3,14,000 crore.
Besides, roughly 4,000 automated teller machines were affected. In the state capital, more than 5,000 employees of more than 400 branches participated.
The bank employees' demands include checking rising prices, stopping anti-employee labour reforms, banking sector reforms and outsourcing, inking a salary agreement soon and implementing a scheme for appointment on compassionate grounds.
