The nationwide strike called by trade unions in protest of the anti-labour policies of the Central Government affected normal life across the State on Wednesday.
leaders of 10 trade unions including BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU, TUCC, AIUTUC, AICCTU and two bank employees’ unions staged demonstrations in front of banks, insurance companies, offices of public sector undertakings (PSUs), railway stations protesting changes in labour laws and privatisation of PSUs.
Trade unionists blocked roads by burning tyres in major locations of the capital and other major cities of the State. Due to the bandh, hundreds of vehicles were also seen stranded on the National Highways.
Due to picketing at the railway stations, movement of several trains was delayed. In Bhubaneswar, the Puri-Bikaner Express, the Bhubaneswar-Balangir Inter-City Express and the Duronto Express got held up.
Banks remained closed in many parts of the State. Even though the State Bank of India did not participate in the strike, trade union activists and bank employees were seen picketing before the SBI branches.
National Confederation of Bank Employees, Odisha chapter, general secretary Jyoti Bhusan Mohapatra said the banking sector remained paralysed in the State, affecting business.
More than 300 activists including Naba Mohanty of the CITU, Ramakrushna Panda of the AITUC and Mahendra Parida of the AICCTU were arrested following the bandh call.
The trade unionists said they have 12 demands including rollback of some labour laws amended recently. The leaders expressed grave concern over skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities like pulses and vegetables and unemployment problem.
“Our agitation will be intensified if the Government does not bow down to the demands,” said All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) State secretary Mahendra Parida.
Political parties such as the Congress and the left parties supported the bandh in the State.