Bhilai, Jan 08, 2019: Trade Unions of Bhilai Steel Plant, Banking Sector, India Post, Insurance Sector and sanitation workers responded to the call of National Trade Unions and participated in the nationwide general strike on Tuesday. The strike evoked mixed response on the first day. The trade unions of Bhilai Steel Plant tried to persuade the employees to stay away from work place. They managed to stage impressive demonstrations at all the gates but failed to make any impact on the normal functioning of the plant. Many of the departments in BSP registered above-average attendance. Operations and production remained unaffected.
On the other hand, there was total bandh in postal services and state owed Insurance Companies while the banking sector was partially affected. Some of the banks remained closed while major banks including State Bank of India and others functioned as normal days. The city sanitation works were badly affected as the contract cleanliness workers participated in the strike. Transport sector remained unaffected and the public transport vehicles including buses, auto-rickshaws and trains functioned as usual. Except a few tense situations, the bandh was peaceful. It needs to be mentioned here that national trade unions launched the two-day nationwide strike Tuesday to protest against proposed labour reforms and labour policies of BJP government.
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BSP registers full attendance on day of strike
On Tuesday during the strike call by Union there was full attendance at Plant level and normal working and production was reported in Bhilai Steel Plant. Till B shift, 99.26% attendance was reported in the works area and 101.54% attendance was reported in non-works area. BSP authorities informed in a press communiqué, “Upholding the culture of Bhilai Steel Plant, employees showed their utmost commitment and reached their work spot and to attend their duty posts”. Special arrangements were made at the Gates for the safe passage of the employees to the work spot. Arrangements were made in the canteens to take care of the needs of the employees coming in various shifts.
The leaders and activists of trade unions staged demonstrations at all the gates of Bhilai Steel Plant right from the morning hours. They tried to prevent the employees from proceeding towards the workplace. Police teams were deployed at all the gates for averting any untoward incident. Trade union activists remained present at all the gates of Bhilai Steel Plant. However, the responsibility of preparations at different gates was distributed among the unions. HMS was at the front in Khursipar Gate; AITUC led the demonstrations at Main Gate; CITU leaders were present at Boria Gate; AICCTU and Steel Workers Union had the responsibility of Maroda Gate while Hindustan Ispat Theka Shramik Union managed the demonstration at Joratarai Gate.
The employees of Medical Department also extended support to the strike. Pressing the demand of early resolution of pending issues, the medical staff expressed their protest by wearing black ribbons during work. The medical services remained unaffected from the general strike.
AICCTU leader Shyamlal Sahu informed that their demonstration began at 05:00 hrs at the Maroda Gate. The activists of Steel Workers Union accompanied them in the demonstration. They raised slogans and urged the workmen to abstain from work. Traffic jam type situation occurred during the shift change timings. Union leaders entered into argument with the policemen when the cops tried to remove them from road. Ashok Miri, Ghanshyam Tripathi, Prabhakar Daate, Brijendra Tiwari, Muktanand Sahu, Rupesh Kosre, Ravi Shankar Singh, Nand Kishore Gupta and others were present.
Bhilai Nagar MLA and Mayor Devendra Yadav also reached Equipment Square in support of the striking employees. He interacted with the striking employees and expressed support. Yadav asked the policemen to avoid any suppressive action on the employees. Steel Employees Union (INTUC) leaders were present on the road to Boria Gate. They also tried to block the road and prevent the employees from entering the plant.
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City sanitation works affected
The city sanitation works were badly affected across the civic body limits of the district as the cleanliness workers were on strike. The labours of Kumhari, Bhilai – Charoda, Bhilai Nagar, Durg and other civic bodies abstained from work and participated in the strike. They staged demonstrations near the head offices of the concerned Civic Bodies. At few places, they took out rallies also. AICCTU leader Jai Prakash Nair informed that they are pressing a charter of 16 demands through this strike. They are demanding discontinuation of contract system; Rs 18000 minimum wages, reducing the hours of working, etc. On the second day of the strike, they will take out a joint rally and would march to the District Collectorate where they will submit a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister.
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Banking operations affected
The banking services across the twin-city were affected as workers went on strike. All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) had supported the strike. However, operations at State Bank of India and private sector banks remained unaffected as seven other bank unions are not taking part in the strike.
AIBEA State Deputy General Secretary Shailesh Kukreja informed that the branches of nationalized banks except the SBI remained closed on the day. The bank employees accompanied with the Insurance Sector employees staged demonstration in front of Dena Bank in Sector 10 and thereafter they marched to the Indira Place bank complex and staged demonstration here too. PK Das (State President AIBEA); Asha Gangeshri (Women Wing Convener, AIBEA) and others were present.
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Post offices remain closed
All the post offices in the district remained closed on the day as all the employees were on strike and staged demonstrations. All India Postal Employees Union leaders VK Agrawal and Ashok Kumar Thakur informed that on the joint call of national trade unions they staged demonstration at all the post offices in the district. Through this strike, the postal employees are pressing a charter of 12 demands. More than 1200 workers from all the five districts of Durg Division participated in the strike. Strike was total in Durg, Rajnandgaon, Bemetara, Kawardha and Balod districts. The employees staged demonstration at Head Post Office in Durg and Rajnandgaon and Civic Centre Post Office. On the second day of the strike, they will stage demonstration in front of Head Post Office in Durg. The employees of other districts will also participate in this demonstration. They have planned to take out a rally and later submit a memorandum at the office of District Collector.