Trade union strike: Adequate police presence to avoid disturbance
The Statesman | 9 July 2025
Ten central trade unions have called for a nationwide general strike tomorrow, with union leaders claiming that the protest could paralyse public life across West Bengal, including Kolkata.
The strike, they say, is backed by over 30 to 40 crore workers and farmers in India. The strike has been called to oppose the central government’s alleged anti-labour policies and press for a 17-point charter of demands, including job security, minimum wages, and social security measures. Participating unions included CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, UTUC, LPF, SEWA, AIUTUC, TUCC and DHASU. Banking services are expected to be severely impacted, with several employee unions announcing their participation. Services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and ATM operations may be disrupted nationwide. Employees from sectors such as banking, insurance, telecom, transport, power, railways, and mining are also expected to join.
The state government has issued strict orders to ensure that public services remain functional. Nabanna has directed all government employees to report for duty on Wednesday, warning that absence without justification will attract show cause notices and pay cuts. Left-aligned trade unions criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led state government’s directive, accusing it of aligning with what they called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pro-corporate governance model.
“This government has abandoned the welfare state in favour of serving Indian and foreign corporate interests,” a union leader said. Transport unions representing private buses, app-based cabs, bike taxis, and yellow taxis in West Bengal are also expected to participate, raising fears of large-scale disruptions in urban mobility. The unions claim the government’s policies are leading to rising unemployment, inflation, stagnant wages, and cuts in public spending on education, healthcare and essential services, disproportionately affecting the poor and middle class. With no fresh dialogue initiated by the Centre, union leaders remain firm on holding the strike.
Citizens have been advised to complete essential banking or travel-related tasks by Tuesday.
General secretary Sudip Dutta general secretary SBISA and convener UFBU, West Bengal said they will give fraternal support to the bandh, but we are taking part in the bandh. But, if we face any obstructions, we will not enter banks.” There are around 20,000 employees as SBISA members in the West Bengal circle.
Rahul Chatterjee of All Bengal Bus Minibus Samanway Samity said we will take out buses if the staff report for duty and there are enough passengers, while another union member said if there is any damage to their buses then the blame will fall on the government.