BBC (Thursday): India hit by strike over reforms

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday September 29 11:11 GMT (4:11 am PDT)

India hit by strike over reforms

A day-long, national strike in India has disrupted air, rail and banking services across the country.

Left-wing trade unions are protesting at the government's economic reforms. It is the first national strike since the Congress party won power in 2004.

Private airlines cancelled flights as airport staff walked out in protest at plans to privatise airports.

Indian communist parties are key supporters of the ruling coalition, but they oppose major economic reforms.

Read more.

This is the proper way to combat the neoliberal menace.

[struggle4progress]

1. Strike throws air, banking services off track

TIMES NEWS NETWORK< FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 02:48:23 AM>

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The Left parties, the chief prop of the UPA government, on Thursday played the role of the Opposition by organising a general strike and once again exposed the growing policy rift in the ruling alliance. The strike disrupted air, rail, telecom and banking services across the country, and the Left leaders warned of similar trade union tactics if the government continued to ignore their views. <snip>

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1247355.cms


Overwhelming response to general strike in State

HYDERABAD: Banking and insurance services remained paralysed while there was partial disruption of APSRTC bus services during the one-day nationwide strike called by the Left parties on Thursday against the UPA Government's economic policies and the move to dilute labour laws. Train services, however, were normal.

The response to the stir was overwhelming and the strike passed off without any case of violence except for the arrest of 34 CITU and AITUC workers in Hyderabad and Godavarikhani. Three flights were cancelled at Hyderabad airport while rail and APSRTC services remained by and large normal.

Normal work was thrown out of gear in all banks and clearing operations came to a grinding halt, according to convener of the United Federation of Bank Union S. Ramababu. <snip>

All-India Insurance Employees Association general secretary K. Venugopal said more than 15,000 employees of insurance companies stayed away from duties as the strike evoked total response in all the 510 LIC and other insurance offices in the State.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/30/stories/2005093017830100.htm

[MisterP]

2. Congress'd be well-advised to dump the neolibs: they "add jobs"

in telecom but this is illusory--on top of India being harmed in the short and long runs