Bengaluru: The two-day nationwide shutdown called by trade unions evoked a mixed response in Karnataka on Tuesday, January 8, with government offices and bus services functioning normally in most parts of the state.
“Thousands of trade union members and workers have joined the strike demanding minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month and abolishing the contract system among other demands,” All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) leader M.D. Harigovind told IANS here.
Even as thousands of industrial workers, labourers and Anganwadi workers took to the streets of Bengaluru and gathered in front of the Town Hall demanding labour-friendly laws, government offices and bus and metro services remained largely unaffected.
There were, however, reports of stones being pelted at a BMTC bus near Basaveshwaranagar late in the morning.
Schools and colleges across the state, however, remained shut and exams scheduled were put off. Many commercial establishments and shops, too, remained closed in support of the strike.
The state-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corp (KSRTC) operated most of its scheduled services across the state, a spokesperson said.
Of the 3,200 services run by Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corp (BMTC) in Bengaluru, about 850 were functional.
Autos fleeced passengers across the state with fewer public buses on the roads, residents said.
Most of the 2,000-odd IT firms and 750 multi-nationals in Bengaluru were also working.
The trade unions on strike held bike rallies in towns and cities waving red flags.
The striking labour unions had 12 demands including stopping all pro-corporate, anti-worker amendments to labour laws, halting privatisation of transport system, institution of universal public distribution system to contain inflation, implementation of complete farm loan waiver and legislation of the right to sell at minimum support price.
With inputs from IANS
