RSS-associated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which has a sizeable presence in public transport, is not joining the strike. The government tried to persuade unions to not go on strike by raising minimum wages, but unions termed the move inadequate.
On its part, the government asked all ministries to ensure public utilities and essential services are not affected. Secretaries have been asked to take measures for smooth running of services coming under their ministries.
Employee unions of public sector lenders have decided to join the stir. But, All India Bank Officers' Confederation and National Confederation of Bank Employees decided to delay the strike. BMS-affiliated National Organisation of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers will also not be taking part. "These four bank unions are not joining the strike," M V Murali, convenor of United Forum of Bank Unions, said. Many banks have already communicated to their customers about likely inconvenience. Unions like All India Bank Employees Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, All India Bank Officers' Association, and Indian National Bank Officers Congress have served notice, saying they will go on a one-day strike on Friday. Most banks, including State Bank of India, feel that in case the strike goes ahead, their services are likely to be impacted. Trade union leaders claimed the strike would be bigger than the one last year on September 2 and expected the ranks of striking workers to swell to 180 million. Last year, the unions had said 140 million workers participated. The unions will protest what they call government's apathy towards their 12-point charter of demands including a monthly minimum wage of Rs 18,000, controlling price rise, and assured minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000.
"This time, the strike will be bigger than that of last year, as over 180 million workers from formal and informal sectors would come on streets to protest government's indifference to their 12-point charter of demands and to protest unilateral anti-worker labour law changes," Trade Union Coordination Committee (TUCC) general secretary S P Tiwari said.
He added, "Besides ports and civil aviation, essential services like transport, telecom, and banking will be paralysed. Workers will go on strike in hospitals and power plants but the protest will not affect their normal functioning."
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya blamed the previous UPA rule for the issues faced by the workers and said the present government "doesn't want a confrontation with labour unions" and rather needs their cooperation and support.
He said banking and insurance sectors are likely to be impacted more due to the strike tomorrow, while adding that out of 12 demands of the trade unions, eight are related to the labour department and seven of them have been agreed to.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said preparations in industrial areas and various sectoral sections of formal and informal economy are all prepared for making this action as \"grand protest of working class\" against the anti-labour policies of the Centre.
AITUC Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said,\"There will be chakka jam in 11 states like Andhra Pradesh, Telengana Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.\"