Trade unions up in arms

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 8

A large number of trade unions of various departments participated in a two-day nationwide strike called by 10 Central trade unions to protest against the Union Government’s anti-worker and anti-national policies here today.

The Punjab Bank Employees Federation, Patiala unit, held a protest outside Oriental Bank, Zonal Office, Chhoti Baradari, here.

Addressing the rally, SK Gautam, general secretary, Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation, and joint secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), said banking, insurance, and entire financial sector, which represent the bulk of national savings, had become their special target in the name of reforms. Privatisation, FDI/FII and encouragement to private investment in this vital sector had become the government’s avowed policy.

Retired PRTC employees stage sit-in

In another protest, hundreds of retired Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) employees, under the banner of the PRTC Employee Workers Union, staged a sit-in protest at the PRTC bus stand.

Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, union leader of the PRTC Employee Workers’ Union, said: “In the last four years, the Central Government has attacked the lives and livelihood of the working people. In fact, we oppose the proposed amendments in the Trade Union Act, 1926, as they are irrational and extremely damaging to the independent functioning of unions”.

Power engineers boycott work

Power engineers participated in the nationwide strike as they boycotted the work on Tuesday to protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2018 and privatisation policies of the governments. Shaliender Dubey, chairman of the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), said power sector employees would proceed on indefinite strike without any notice in case the Bill was passed without addressing their concerns on the proposed amendments.

VK Gupta, a spokesperson for the AIPEF, said the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2018 further divides the unbundled electricity industry. The distribution company would carry the electricity to the point of consumption. The final act of selling electricity to the consumer and collecting cash would be done by supply licence.