Nationwide Strike: Public Services Face Major Disruption Across India
July 9, 2025
Nationwide Strike—A nationwide general strike is set to disrupt public services across India on Wednesday, as over 25 crore workers from various sectors, including banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, construction, and transportation, prepare to participate in the industrial action. The strike, called by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions and their associated federations, aims to protest the government’s policies, which the unions describe as
“anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate.”
Key Demands
The trade unions have submitted a 17-point charter of demands to the Labour Minister, which includes:
- Employment Generation: The unions demand the creation of new job opportunities and filling of sanctioned vacancies. With rising unemployment, the unions believe that the government needs to take concrete steps to generate employment.
- Withdrawal of Labour Codes: The unions want the government to withdraw the four new labour codes, which they claim dilute protections for workers and enable employers to exploit them. The codes, they argue, undermine trade union rights and collective bargaining power.
- Safeguards against Privatisation and Outsourcing: The unions demand safeguards against privatisation and outsourcing, which they claim lead to job losses and undermine workers’ rights. They argue that privatisation and outsourcing benefit corporate interests at the expense of workers’ rights.
Impact on Essential Services
The strike is expected to impact essential services, including:
- Banking: Banking services may be disrupted, affecting customers’ ability to access their accounts and conduct transactions. This may cause inconvenience to customers, especially those who rely on banking services for their daily transactions.
- Postal Services: Postal services may be affected, leading to delays in mail delivery and other postal services. This may impact businesses and individuals who rely on postal services for communication and delivery.
- Coal Production: Coal production may be impacted, affecting power generation and other industries that rely on coal. This may lead to power outages and disruptions in industries that rely on coal.
- Public Transport: Public transport services may be disrupted, affecting commuters’ ability to travel to work or other destinations. This may cause inconvenience to commuters and impact daily life.
Support from Farmers’ Unions
Farmers’ unions and rural workers have pledged support for the strike, with protests expected in both urban and rural areas. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the joint front of agricultural labour unions have extended their full support, announcing plans for mass mobilisation in rural India. The farmers’ unions are demanding policies that benefit farmers and rural workers, including better prices for agricultural produce and improved working conditions.
Government Response
The government has been accused of ignoring workers’ rights and bypassing consultations. The unions allege that the government has not convened the Indian Labour Conference for a decade and is pushing through policies that favour corporate interests at the expense of workers’ rights. The government needs to take concrete steps to address the concerns of workers and farmers, rather than ignoring their demands.
Conclusion
The nationwide strike is a significant industrial action that aims to highlight the concerns of workers and farmers in India. The strike is expected to impact public services and disrupt daily life, but the trade unions believe that it is necessary to draw attention to their demands and push for policy changes that benefit workers and farmers. The government needs to take concrete steps to address the concerns of workers and farmers, rather than ignoring their demands. Only through dialogue and negotiation can the government and trade unions find a solution that benefits all stakeholders.
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