The trade unions on Monday decided to go ahead with the two-day nation-wide strike from February 20 as talks between the government and union representatives failed to break the deadlock.
“The government has not offered any solution. So there will be no change and strike stands. We have not called it off,” CITU general secretary Tapan Sen said after a two-hour long meeting.
Following an appeal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call off the strike Union Ministers A K Antony, Sharad Pawar and Mallikarjun Kharge had a meeting with leaders of 11 trade unions and requested them to call off the strike on the grounds that it would incur loss to the economy and inconvenience to general public.
AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said, “Representatives of central trade unions will hold consultations among us on future course of action, but there is no question of calling off the strike merely on basis of assurances.”
Protesting against privatisation, outsourcing, violation of labour laws, price rise and several other burning issues, the trade unions has called for a nation-wide strike.
The strike has been called jointly by the Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS), All India Trade union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and other such organisations. The Independent Federation of Workers and Employees too have joined the protest.