The joint forum of central trade unions, supported by the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), has called for a nationwide strike on March 28 and 29 against the Central Government’s policies affecting workers, farmers, and people in general.
The bank unions are also protesting against the Government’s plan to privatise public sector banks, as well as the Banking Laws Amendment Bill 2021. Apart from unions in the banking sector, trade unions in the insurance, railway, coal, steel, oil and postal sector are also expected to participate in the two-day-long strike.
The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has said that banking services may get affected due to the strike. “We advise that while the bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices on the days of strike, it is likely that work in our bank may be impacted to a limited extent, by the strike,” SBI said in a regulatory filing.
The nationwide strike will, however, have limited impact in West Bengal as the Government issued an order saying all offices were to remain open and the employees would have to mandatorily report to duty.
“In view of calls given by different trade unions for a 48-hour nationwide strike/bandh on March 28 and 29, all state government offices will remain open and employees shall report for duty on those days. Leaves to be treated as ‘dies-non’ and no salary will be admissible,” the order read. Haryana Government has issued orders for maintaining essential services to prevent strikes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power on Sunday issued an advisory to all States Governments and electricity authorities asking them to ensure the normal functioning of the electricity supply during the strike of the employees. Also, manpower may be deployed at all critical sub-stations/power stations 24X7 to handle any emergency situation, it said. Power supply to those engaged in essential services such as hospitals, defence, and railways must be ensured, it added and suggested setting up of a 24x7 control room for information dissemination and handling any kind of contingency.
"The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has called for a nationwide strike with effect from 06:00 hrs of March 28 to 06:00 hrs of March 30, 2022. In the interest of the consumers of electricity, it is advised that all the power utilities shall take necessary measures to ensure round-the-clock functioning of the electricity grid and availability of all plants, transmission lines and substations”, the Ministry of Power said, adding that all regional/state control room executives should be vigilant and on high alert.
The advisory has been issued to all states, CPSUs (Central Public Sector Undertakings), central electricity authority, national load dispatch centre and regional load dispatch centres. The ministry also suggested measures to be taken to ensure secure and reliable grid operations. Shutdown activities planned during March 28-29 may be rescheduled to suitable future dates to the extent possible, it said and asked all concerned officials to ensure close supervision of their regional network/control area.