A joint forum of 10 central trade unions has called for a nationwide strike, termed “Bharat Bandh,” on Wednesday, July 9. The strike is expected to see participation from over 25 crore workers across various sectors — including banking, insurance, postal services, and coal mining — potentially causing disruption to essential public services. The strike is to protest against what the union calls “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-national pro-corporate policies” of the central government.
Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said farmers and rural workers will also take part in the strike. The trade unions have issued a call to make “Bharat Bandh” a “grand success” after months of intensive preparations across formal and informal sectors. The widespread action will effect banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services.
The root cause for the strike is a 17-point charter submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya by the labour unions last year, which did not receive a definite response. The unions allege that the government failed to hold the annual labour conference in the last decade, all the while , it continued to push four new labour codes that aim to cripple the labour unions , increase working hours , weaken collective bargaining and protects employers from accountability under labour laws.
The union further alleged that the government is prioritizing the interests of both foreign and Indian corporates, while neglecting its role as a welfare state as evident in its current policies. They have called on the government to address rising unemployment, soaring prices of essential goods, stagnant wages, and cuts in spending on education, healthcare, and public services — all of which are placing an increasing burden on lower-income and middle-class citizens.
Another reason put forth by the union is the rise in recruitment of retired personnel as seen in Railways, which is counterproductive for a nation where 6 per cent of the population is under 35, with unemployment most common among those aged 20 to 25.
A massive mobilisations in rural India is also planned as The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and joint front of the agricultural workers unions have extended support to “Bharat Bandh”
Similar nationwide strikes by the trade union took place on November 26, 2020, on March 28-29, 2022, and on February 16 last year.