!!! Strike updates !!!!

TIMES OF  INDIA  20.02.2013

NEW DELHI: Normal banking operations were hit today as employees of public sector banks went on a two-day strike in response to a call given by central trade unions to press for wage hike in the backdrop of rising inflation.

The nationwide strike call has been given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), consisting of nine national level unions, including AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW and AIBOC.

Trade union leader killed in Ambala

A trade union leader, who was squatting along with a group of workers near the local bus depot as part of the two-day nationwide strike call, on Wednesday died when he was hit by a bus in his bid to stop it from plying, a senior Roadways official said here.

"The incident took place around 4 am this morning when Narender Singh, a bus driver by profession, tried to stop the vehicle which was being taken out from the Ambala Depot despite the strike," district president, Haryana Roadways Workers Union's, Inder Singh Bhadana told reporters here.

Bharat bandh: During the Bharat Bandh or all-India strike today, factories and cars were vandalized in Hoisery Complex, Phase 2 in Noida near Delhi. Some factory-owners claim their property was looted. Factory owners told NDTV almost all building and warehouses in the complex was found vandalised with glass on facades found broken. Harjeev Chawla, one factory owner told NDTV that he began getting calls since around 8 am that mobs were roaming around the complex breaking glass and setting cars on fire.

CHANDIGARH: Normal life was disrupted in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Wednesday due to the nationwide strike called by the central trade unions in support of their various demands including steps to control price rise and strict enforcement of labour laws. 

The impact of the strike was felt on public transport services as majority of state owned buses plying on inter-state routes in Punjab and Haryana remained off the roads.

Trains, road services hit in Bihar

Thousands of people were stranded across Bihar on Wednesday as trains were stopped and key highways blocked by activists affiliated to various trade unions that have called for a nationwide two-day strike.

Workers of trade unions stopped nearly a dozen passenger and long-distance trains at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Hajipur, Bhagalpur and Darbhanga railway stations.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions hits normal life across Kerala today with workers from varied sectors, including transport and banking, staying away from work to protest the UPA government's economic and labour policies.
Early reports said buses and taxis were off the roads and shops and restaurants remained closed.  

Financial sector crippled as shutdown starts in Mumbai

India's financial sector was crippled on Wednesday after all banks, insurance companies and commercial establishments in this commercial capital remained shut on the first of the two-day nationwide strike, organisers said.

"The banking and financial sector is 100 percent closed, not only in Mumbai and Maharashtra but all over the country," All India Bank Employees Association vice-president V Utagi told IANS.

Source : http://aipeup3tn.blogspot.in/2013/02/blog-post_20.html

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