The nationwide general strike called by Central trade unions to protest the “anti-labour” policies of the UPA government on Tuesday threw normal life out of gear in Kerala and had a partial impact in Karnataka and TN.
Functioning of banks and insurance companies was badly hit in all the three states where the employees joined the strike and staged rallies. In Kerala, where the Left has a strong presence, buses kept off the roads and shops remained closed with reports from across the state saying the impact was near total.
The Congress-led UDF Government in the state has enforced ‘no work-no pay’ order in government offices. In the BJP-ruled Karnataka, the strike had some impact with workers in the organised and unorganised sectors joining the protest against price rise and privatisation of PSUs and voicing other demands.
Over 10,000 employees representing various unions, including those affiliated to AITUC, CITU and bank employees took out protest rallies in front of town hall and Mysore Bank circle in Bengaluru.
Roads that are otherwise choc-o-block with vehicles were almost bereft of them in the IT city. Commuters, especially outstation travellers, had a tough time with autorickshaws staying off the roads. Over 1.5 lakh autorickshaw drivers belonging to 12 autorickshaw unions struck work in the state demanding hike in the minimum fare to `24 from `17.