Banking operations have been partially impacted at some state-run lenders on November 26 as employees join a one-day nationwide strike called by ten trade unions.
Cash transactions including deposits and withdrawal at branches, forex and government transactions have been affected at many public sector banks (PSBs), PTI reported.
However, State Bank of India (SBI) and private sector banks are functional, the report said.
The All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) are participating in the Bharat Bandh.
Around 25 crore workers are estimated to participate in the strike against some of the central government's policies. The Bharat Bandh on November 26 is being dubbed as the world's largest coordinated general strike.
Also read: Find out what services will remain open, what are the demands and other details
The AIBEA said nearly 30,000 bank employees from 10,000 bank branches of public sector banks, old generation private sector banks, regional rural banks, and foreign banks in Maharashtra will take part in the November 2020 strike.
AIBEA represents staff at most banks, except SBI and Indian Overseas Bank.
Bank employees are protesting against privatisation of banks and outsourcing and contract systems in jobs in the sector.
The other unions participating the strike are - Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) and Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA).
Here's what has happened so far:
> Some lenders, such as IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, have informed stock exchanges of the industry-wide strike.
IDBI Bank said normal functioning of branches might be affected, and the bank is taking steps to minimise the impact of the strike.
> AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told PTI that services at banks, LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), GIC (General Insurance Corporation) and the Income Tax Department are also likely to be hit severely.
> Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been affected the most so far due to the agitation, PTI reported citing a union representative.
> ANI reported that bus services were affected, and markets closed in Kochi, Kerala
> Members of Left trade union blocked a railway track at Belgharia station in North 24 Parganas and held a demonstration in Kolkata.
> In Odisha, vehicular movement was disrupted as trade union activists staged road blockades in different parts of the state, PTI reported.
> The Uttar Pradesh government on November 25 invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), banning strikes in all state government departments, corporations and authorities for six months.
> "The states of Kerala, Puducherry, Odisha, Assam and Telangana have reported complete shut down. Tamil Nadu reported complete shut down in 13 districts, while the industrial strike continues in the rest of the districts. Punjab and Haryana have reported that the state road transport buses have not left their depots in the morning," a joint statement issued by the trade unions said. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh reported 100 percent strike, including at BALCO.
> Normal life partially affected in West Bengal due to nationwide trade union strike, sporadic clashes reported in several parts of state, PTI reported.
> Protesting against the governments alleged anti-labour policies, bank employees of 7,300 branches belonging to the public sector banks in Madhya Pradesh went on a day-long strike on Thursday. Nearly 18,000 employees working in 7,300 branches belonging to the 10 public sector banks in Madhya Pradesh took part in the strike, Madhya Pradesh Bank Employees Association (MPBEA) Secretary M K Shukla told PTI. Because of the strike, banking operations including deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearance and fixed deposits renewal and government treasury works got affected in a major way, he said.
> Members of various trade unions in Tamil Nadu on Thursday took part in the nationwide strike to protest against the central government's new farm and labour laws, among other workers-related issues and policies. The trade union members staged demonstrations, holding rallies in all districts barring 13, including Chennai which faced the wrath of cyclone Nivar, union sources said. The state government had also declared a holiday for the 13 districts in view of "Nivar" which crossed the eastern coast in the early hours of Thursday. According to trade union leaders, they decided to go ahead with the strike in places which were not affected by the cyclone. "Our strike is against the anti-labour government policies and not against the people," trade union sources said.
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