Labour strike partially affects banking, health services

Khammam: Over 10,000 workers affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and its associate labour organisations from the Khammam district took part in the two-day nationwide strike that started on Tuesday. The union earlier stated that the strike was in protest against the anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms taken up by the State and Central governments.

Sectors like telecom, health, education, coal, steel, electricity, banking, insurance and transport among others were hit by the strike as workers of all the said sectors took part in the strike. Telangana Sales and Medical Representatives Union members also participated in the strike in the Khammam district. Price cut of essential commodities, percentage reduction of Goods and Services Tax, minimum wages were some of the issues brought out by the agitating workers.

Further, the banking services were affected partially in the district due to the strike. Many of the employees of banking sector took part in the strike supported by the All India Rural Bank Employees' Association (AIRBEA) and Bank Employees' Federation of India (BEFI).

However, the customers of a number of public sector banks were not put much of inconvenience as they were already informed about the strike. The agitating employees on the occasion demanded the termination of services of temporary employees who have been working for a long time besides implementation of pension for the rural bank employees.