Trade union strike cripples industry

NEW DELHI: Several sectors, including ports, coal, power, telecom, banks, insurance, defence, petroleum and construction, were hit by a nation-wide industrial strike called by all major trade unions on Tuesday.

The strike called by eight central trade unions, including Congress-affiliated Intuc, was against price rise, alleged violation of labour laws and disinvestment in PSUs.

Banking operations were partially affected as employees, mainly belonging to public sector, co-operative and regional rural banks, joined the strike opposing FDI in the banking sector and grant of licences to private banks.

Major private airliners cancelled over 170 flights from various cities to West Bengal and Kerala in the wake of the strike, but national carrier Air India said its operations were not hampered due to the stir.

Air operations to and from Kolkata were crippled as private airliners like Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Jetlite, Indigo and Spicejet cancelled nearly 177 flights mainly to the two Left-ruled states, where normal life was badly hit by the strike which took the shape of a bandh.

“It was unprecedented and inconceivable strike all over the country. It is the unity (of the trade unions) that inspired workers to join the stir and its impact was massive,” Aituc general secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta said.

He claimed that life came to "standstill" at many places. "After many years, the strike hit Maharashtra. Pune was totally closed, according to our information," he added.