Strike called over privatization and new labour laws:Bank employees and officers to rally at Gandhi Hall, banking services expected to be hit

On February 12, a nationwide protest will be held following calls from the All India Bank Employees’ Association, All India Bank Officers’ Association, and other organisations. In Indore, all bank employees and officers will assemble at Abhinav Kala Samaj, Gandhi Hall, for a large demonstration and public meeting. Earlier, on Wednesday evening, bank staff and officers staged a protest across the city. During the protest, employees voiced opposition to the central government’s worker-unfriendly and public-unfriendly policies. Speakers said that the four new labour codes undermine the rights to organise, collective bargaining, and strike. The protest also targeted the privatization of public sector banks and insurance companies, staff shortages, rising outsourcing, the termination of the old pension scheme, and increasing service charges for the general public. The demonstration was addressed by Mohan Krishna Shukla, Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Bank Employees’ Association, and Arvind Porwal, General Secretary of the MP Bank Officers’ Association. The programme was conducted by Naveen Modi, co-treasurer of the All India Bank Employees’ Association, while Pankaj Pandhre delivered the vote of thanks. Speakers emphasised that these policies do not only affect bank employees’ rights, but also pose challenges to the country’s economy and the stability of the public sector. They urged all bank employees and officers to actively and fully participate in the strike on February 12. Congress backs protest, Indian Workers’ Union abstains INTUC President Shyam Sundar Yadav said the protest is supported by ten trade unions and eighteen federations, with backing from Congress. However, the Indian Workers’ Union will not participate in the strike. On February 12, a symbolic protest will be held, and if the government fails to meet demands regarding labour laws, the next phase will see a more aggressive movement.