Nationwide Strike Call on Tomorrow to Hit Banking, ATM Services

New Delhi: A nationwide strike call has been given by Central trade unions on tomorrow to protest against the policies of the central government. The strike is likely to hit banking sectors, including ATM services, as bank unions have asked their employees to boycott their work.

Trade unions have claimed that about 25 cr people would participate in the nationwide strike. The Bharat Bandh 2020 has been called against the Central government’s recent banking reforms and policies. Among other demands put forward by the trade unions include a raise in the minimum wage to Rs 21,000-Rs 24,000 per month, stopping the privatisation of public sector undertakings, and the repeal of the Citizens Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The unions are also protesting against the proposed merger of 10 PSU banks to create four entities as announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August 2018. Earlier in September 2019, the trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with other sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a resolution to go on a nationwide strike on January 8, 2020.

The all-India strike call by the central trade unions is expected to draw a huge number because about 60 student organizations and elected representatives from some universities will also participate in the strike to raise voice against increased fee structure and commercialization of education. The trade unions have also flayed the JNU violence and similar incidents in other university campuses expressing their solidarity with students and teachers all over India.