THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 24-HOUR general strike called by various trade unions in the state in protest against the Union Government’s decision to extend fixed-term employment in all sectors has begun. The strike began at 12 midnight on Sunday and will end at Monday midnight. The strike has been called by sixteen trade unions in the state. BMS, the trade union of the BJP, has decided not to participate. Employees of the state and Central government offices such as banks and BSNL are expected to take part in the protest. KSRTC, private buses, autorickshaw and taxi services will stay off the roads on Monday.
The strike, under the aegis of a coordination committee of trade unions, will see the unions take out a march from near the Museum police station to Raj Bhavan at 11 am. In a statement, CITU state president Ananthalavattam Ananthan said that CITU, INTUC, AITUC, STU, HMS, UTUC are among the major unions that have joined the protest call. Workers of the BMS too had been urged to take part in the strike. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala University, CUSAT, University of Calicut, Kannur University and Kerala University of Health Sciences have postponed all examinations scheduled for Monday.