Bengaluru: Trade unions have called for a nationwide strike on Thursday, protesting the implementation of the four labour codes and pressing for a broad charter of demands, including the reinstatement of MGNREGA and withdrawal of several recent policy and legal changes. While essential services and public transport in Bengaluru are expected to function largely as usual, industrial production clusters in and around the city may see partial disruption.

Union leaders said workers across multiple sectors are expected to participate in the strike, particularly in organised industrial belts and government-owned undertakings.

Industrial areas likely to see lower attendance

Bengaluru industrial sources said worker participation is expected to be significant in major manufacturing and industrial zones around the city. Areas where attendance may be affected include:

  • Bidadi
  • Kumbalgodu
  • Jigani
  • Bommasandra
  • Narasapura
  • Peenya
  • Vemagal
  • Dobbspet
  • Electronics City
  • Whitefield

Trade union organisers have planned protest meetings and gate demonstrations in several of these clusters. Worker representatives said many factory employees are likely to stay away from work in solidarity with the strike call.

Industry associations are monitoring the situation, though no citywide shutdown of industrial operations has been officially declared.

Public transport, banks likely to function

Bengaluru officials and union sources indicated that normal public life is expected to remain largely unaffected. State-run transport corporations and banking institutions are likely to function as usual, unlike in some previous nationwide strike calls where transport services were hit.

However, employees of certain government-owned undertakings, including BSNL and LIC, have announced participation in the strike. Their involvement may lead to limited service delays in specific offices or service centres.

Banks and most public sector institutions are not expected to shut down operations, though union-affiliated staff may join protest actions during non-peak hours.

Joint demonstration at Town Hall

Bengaluru trade unions said that under the banner of the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), 11 unions will organise a major demonstration at Town Hall at 11.30 am. Participants plan to stage protests and court arrest as part of the agitation programme.

JCTU coordinator K.V. Bhat said workers from multiple sectors — including manufacturing, services and public enterprises — are expected to take part in the rally.

Police are likely to deploy additional personnel around Town Hall and nearby central areas to manage gatherings and traffic during the protest period.

Unions say impact will be felt by industry

Bengaluru union leaders said that even if daily public movement is not severely disrupted, the strike will have a measurable economic effect through halted production and reduced industrial output.

CITU president Meenakshi Sundaram and secretary S. Varalakshmi said the strike is meant to highlight the central role of labour in economic activity.

“This may not directly affect public life, but industrialists and IT-BT entrepreneurs will feel the impact. Even a day’s halt in production results in losses worth crores. The importance of workers will then be realised,” they said.

Key demands listed by trade unions

Bengaluru unions participating in the strike have put forward a multi-point charter of demands covering labour, rural employment, agriculture, land and privatisation policies. Major demands include:

  • Repeal of the four labour codes
  • Reinstatement of MGNREGA in strengthened form
  • Withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Act changes
  • Rollback of amendments to the Land Reforms Act, APMC Act and Cattle Protection Act
  • Halt to privatisation of electricity sector units
  • Withdrawal of the Seeds Act provisions opposed by unions
  • Repeal of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025
  • Cancellation of the Karnataka state notification implementing the four labour codes
  • Increase in minimum wages
  • Non-implementation in Karnataka of what unions describe as anti-people Central laws

Union leaders said the strike is also intended to press for wider social security coverage and stronger statutory protections for both organised and unorganised workers.

Advisory to commuters and industries

Bengaluru authorities have not announced any restrictions but advised industries and commuters to plan schedules with some flexibility, especially in industrial zones where worker turnout may be low and protest gatherings may take place.

Police said protests will be monitored to ensure they remain peaceful and within permitted limits.

Conclusion

The nationwide strike call is expected to have a targeted impact in Bengaluru, mainly across industrial belts and select public sector units, while core city services remain functional. Trade unions say the protest is aimed at forcing policy reconsideration, while industry is bracing for at least a day of reduced productivity.