Trade unions call for two-day national strike on January 8 against BJP's anti-people policies

NEW DELHI: As many as 10 trade unions have decided to call a two-day countrywide general strike from January 8 to protest the BJP government's "anti-people and anti-worker policies", AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said.

The decision for the strike was announced at the National Convention of Workers in New Delhi on Friday, which was attended by workers affiliated to all major trade unions barring the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

The trade unions express serious concern over the "deteriorating" economy due to the Centre's "pro-corporate, anti-national, anti-people and anti-worker policies", All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said. 

She also appealed to members of all trade unions to oppose the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year.

"To weaken the working class and the labour movement in the country, the Narendra Modi government has adopted policies which ultimately hurt the common man. The government's policies are pro-capitalist. We have to ensure the BJP's defeat in 2019 general elections," Kaur said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) President Sanjeeva Reddy alleged that the Central government not only refused to respond to the just and genuine demands of the of the working class, but has suppressing the rights of workers, employees and trade unions.