Things to know about the trade union strike across India

Mumbai: Following a nationwide bandh called by 10 trade unions to protest against the amendments in labout laws, the Contract Act, the Electricity Act and Factory Act, normal life has been affected in parts of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.

1. Trade unions have accused the NDA government of ignoring the rights of workers in unorganized sectors.

2. AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta was quoted by a Daily as saying that it would be a peaceful strike.

3. This move was undertaken after talks between Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and various trade unions that have now called for Bharat Bandh.

4. The workers on strike are from the working class, which includes the banking sector, workers at construction and manufacturing sector. It is said that hawkers and domestic workers have also joined the strike.

5. The strike called by the trade unuons has affected the transport and banking services in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Public sectors banks in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana are reportedly shut.

6. Meanwhile, government on Wednesday indicated that talks with the trade unions will continue. "I don't think essential services will be affected by the strike. I feel that the impact will not be much. I appeal to them to call off the strike in the interest of workers and nation," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters.