Nationwide Strike by Labor Unions: Impact and Reactions

On a nationwide scale, a one-day strike called by ten central labor organizations largely left essential services unaffected. However, reports indicate that certain services were disrupted in Kerala, Jharkhand, and Puducherry. The labor unions claim that around 250 million workers participated in this 'general strike' to protest against various issues, including new labor codes. Their demands include the repeal of four labor codes, the abolition of the contract system, halting the privatization of public sector enterprises, and raising the minimum wage to ₹26,000 per month. Additionally, farmer organizations are advocating for a minimum support price for crops based on the Swaminathan Commission's C2 plus 50 percent formula and are seeking loan waivers for farmers.

In Kerala, the strike has effectively turned into a complete shutdown, with both private and public stage carriage services and long-distance bus operations coming to a near halt. This has caused significant inconvenience for hundreds of travelers, including families with small children, who found themselves stranded at railway stations and airports. Conversely, in Karnataka's Mysuru and the capital Bengaluru, industrial production and daily life remained largely unaffected. Nevertheless, trade union activists in Mysuru held rallies, protesting against both the central and state governments. In Hyderabad, rows of red flags were visible as hundreds of union members took to the streets, organizing bike rallies on the Medak and Chinna routes, while a vigorous demonstration occurred on Anna Salai in Chennai.

In Assam, several unions, including tea garden workers, showed their support for the strike by taking to the streets. Buses and taxis were halted in cities like Guwahati, causing significant difficulties for commuters. In Kolkata, Naxalbari, and other areas, leftist supporters staged protests by sitting on railway tracks, leading to clashes with police in several locations, necessitating the deployment of additional security forces.

In Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, and various regions of the state, the strike by labor organizations and vehicle drivers disrupted transportation services on Wednesday. The opposition parties, including Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), have expressed their support for the labor unions' protests. Drivers of buses, taxis, and trucks initiated a work stoppage from Tuesday morning, demanding welfare measures for drivers. Protesters blocked several roads, including national highways in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bolangir, and Sambalpur. Police reported that various government offices, banks, businesses, and educational institutions were partially affected in districts like Raigarh, Berhampur, Nabarangpur, and Gajapati. Members of the labor organization staged a sit-in outside petrol pumps in Bhubaneswar, causing them to shut down.

On Tuesday, the central labor ministry claimed that around 213 unions, including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), had indicated they would not participate in the nationwide strike. A union representing bank employees also announced earlier that the banking sector would not join the strike.