The Hindu : Mixed response to general strike in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mixed response to general strike in State

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 24. The nationwide general strike called by the Left-supported Central Trade Unions evoked a mixed response in the State on Tuesday, with the impact being felt in organisations where they have considerable support and much less in others where their presence is marginal.

The strike was `total' in the State Government and Central Government offices, banks, insurance, Postal Department and a few public sector units all over the State. Work was paralysed in all these organisations with employees staying away. It was partial in telecommunications, APSRTC, Singareni Collieries, municipal corporations and councils, Government hospitals, ports and docks.

The strike was called for demanding restoration of the right to strike, struck down by the Supreme Court, its inclusion in the election manifestos of all political parties and protest against the `anti- people' economic policies.

At several places, employees and workers wore black badges and staged demonstrations. The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Telugu Nadu Trade Union Council (TNTUC) did not participate in the strike.

Reports from districts indicated that the response was fairly good in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, West and East Godavari, Khammam, Chittoor, Kurnool and Nizamabad. The strike did not affect normal life with business establishments remaining open. The major trade unions, the State units of the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), however, claimed the strike was a `grand success' all over the State. P. Nageswara Rao, general secretary of the State AITUC, told The Hindu that the strike evoked a spontaneous and good response. It was `cent per cent' in the State and Central Government offices, banks and insurance sectors.

As for Singareni coalmines, it was `total' in Ramakrishnapur, Mandamarri, Bellampalli, Yellendu mines and partial in Bhoopalapalli, Godavarikhani besides the head office at Kothagudem. This was despite the fact that the INTUC was the recognised union, he said. Similarly, the response from APSRTC employees was `more than expected'.

In Hyderabad, the strike in ECIL and HCL was a success. In Visakhapatnam, it was 50 per cent in port and docks and total in Chittivalasa Jute Mills.

S. Veeraiah, general secretary of the State CITU, said far more sections of workers participated in the strike than on earlier eight occasions. Employees of the State Secretariat, Panchayat Raj and Cooperative Departments participated in full strength. Most of the district collectorates remained closed. Though the INTUC, BMS and TNTUC stayed away, members belonging to them in Postal, HCL and Voltas participated in the strike.

The Government tried its best to foil the strike and eight CITU leaders were arrested from different parts of the State, Mr. Veeraiah alleged. He demanded that they be released.

Bank employees and officers working in public and private sector banks, including regional rural banks, struck work opposing foreign direct investment in private banks and amendments to labour laws, besides the Supreme Court ruling. Banks remained closed in all important centres, according to S. Rambabu, convener of the State Committee of the United Forum of Bank Unions.

V. Nageswara Rao, general secretary, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, said the strike was observed successfully by employees of the Accountant General's Office, Income Tax, GSI, Civil Accounts and Railway Audit departments.

The striking insurance employees held a centralised rally before the LIC divisional office in Hyderabad.

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