July 9 strike likely to hit normal life in Kerala

The nationwide general strike called by major trade unions on Wednesday (July 9) protesting against the “anti-worker, anti-farmer” policies of the Union government is likely to assume the dimensions of a bandh in Kerala, affecting services across sectors.

With the major trade unions, including the CITU, INTUC, AITUC supporting it, the 24-hour strike is expected to disrupt the functioning of Central and State government offices, banks, government-run educational institutions, and public transport, including the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

The managements of the KSRTC and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) have declared that unauthorised absence by their employees on Wednesday will be treated as dies non. Wednesday’s salary of absentees will be deducted from the monthly salary for July.

The KSEB has also directed its offices to put the power utility’s scheme for maintenance of supply during emergencies into operation. Fault repair teams should be deployed at “all important locations” to meet emergencies without delay, a July 5 KSEB circular said.

Trade unions have, among other things, demanded the Centre to summarily withdraw the Labour Codes, the Electricity Amendment Bill, and halt the privatisation of public sector institutions.

The State-level joint committee of trade unions has appealed to the general public and workers in Kerala to make the nationwide strike a success.

The Joint Council of State Service Organisations and the NGO Union said on Tuesday that government employees in the State would participate in the strike. The council urged the employees and the general public to make the July 9 strike a success.

Essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, media, milk supply and other emergency services have been exempted from the strike.