Karnataka - Bangalore

Essential services to be kept out of strike

S. Rajendran

It is only a strike and not a bandh, say trade unions

BANGALORE: The general strike in the State as part of the nation-wide call given by the trade unions may not affect normal life but it will only strike a chord of sympathy in a fast changing labour force. The digital divide in the State has contributed to growing income inequality in the last 15 years. There is a growing gap between the information technology sector and the manufacturing sector employees (in particular the unorganised sector), especially in Bangalore. Trade unions have said that this is a strike and not a bandh and that essential services such as milk supply would be kept out of its purview.

The H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition Government has not formally voiced its views on the strike call, although the Chief Minister made an appeal to government employees to attend office (the Karnataka State Government Employees Association has given a call to all employees to participate in the strike).

A top government official told The Hindu that it would be left to the working class to decide on the nature of the strike.

The Home Department has issued directions to the police to provide adequate bandobast and ensure law and order. The functioning of all commercial banks is likely to be affected as the bank unions were taking part in the strike.

In addition to the demands addressed to the Union Government, there are specific ones concerning local interests in the backdrop of the State Government's support to outsourcing and contract labour.

Top leaders of the communist parties and other trade unions have said that they will draw the attention of the State Government to the need for comprehensive legislation for the unorganised sector. As per an estimation, of the 1.04 crore workers in the State, 80 per cent are in the unorganised sector.

Secretary of the State CPI (M) G.N. Nagaraj said the gap in wage levels between those in the information technology sector and those in the manufacturing and the unorganised sectors was wide and growing.

Mr. Nagaraj alleged that the State Labour Department, which was constituted to take care of the interests of workers, had changed its outlook and was now "pro-employer" as the Government had itself turned pro-management. In the race for seeking better industrial investments, the need to take care of employees' interests had taken a backseat and enforcement of various labour welfare regulations had come to a halt.

College teachers

Bangalore Staff Reporter reports:

College teachers in the State will participate in the Strike in response to an appeal by Federation of University and College Teachers Associations in Karnataka.

Their main demands include right to education as a fundamental right and spending a minimum of six per cent of GDP on education.

Defence employees

The Defence Civilian Employees Union will strike work in protest against what, it said, was the Government's failure to solve the issues raised through the Charter of Demands placed by the All India Defence Employees Federation. All the unions affiliated to the federation in Bangalore will take part the strike.

Panchayat staff

Bangalore Special Correspondent reports:

Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Employees Association has expressed solidarity with the strike. The association has in a release said that the members were on a strike in Nelamangala, Doddballapur, Magadi, Kanakapura and other taluk centres demanding better service conditions.

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