Millions of Indian Workers Set To Strike
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Millions of Indian government workers are set to strike today to protest rising prices and proposed sales of stakes in state-run companies, in one of the biggest industrial actions in Indian history, and the 14th general strike since India’s economic reforms in the 1990s.
Banking, postal and other important services are likely to be affected as all 11 of India’s central trade unions, each with at least 400,000 members, take part in the mass strike.
Millions of Indian government workers are set to strike today to protest rising prices and proposed sales of stakes in state-run companies, in one of the biggest industrial actions in Indian history, and the 14th general strike since India’s economic reforms in the 1990s.
Banking, postal and other important services are likely to be affected as all 11 of India’s central trade unions, each with at least 400,000 members, take part in the mass strike.
The unions say they are protesting rising prices, privatization of state-run companies and the widespread violation of workers’ rights, demanding strict implementation of labor laws and an increase in the minimum wages.
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Other demands include measures to curb inflation and the provision of universal social security cover for non-unionised workers.
Although India’s inflation rate has dipped from a 9.1 percent high in December, it remains at a current high of 7.5 percent. Economic growth, too, is expected to reach 7 percent for 2011, lower than a previous forecast of 9 percent.
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Sanjeeva Reddy, president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress said:
[quote] The strike is to put pressure on the government to concede to the demands of workers. [/quote]According to Gurudas Dasgupta, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, the strike is the biggest ‘show of unity by all trade unions’ across the political spectrum – a reflection of their collective desire to regain the bargaining power they had in the 1970s and 1980s.
Tapan Sen, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, commented:
[quote] The policies of liberalisation over the past 20 years have made workers poorer in real terms and led to extreme disparities of wealth. The workers are creating all the profit but are treated like beasts. There is a resentment and anger churning at the ground level that has created the atmosphere for these strikes. [/quote]Workers have promised further action if their demands are not met.
The protests are not expected to significantly affect financial markets in Asia’s third-largest economy, but analysts interviewed by Reuters said there could be some volatility in the bond market if volumes are lower than normal.
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