THE call for a general strike by central trade unions, peasants and agricultural workers unions became a success in Telangana on November 26th. Statewide publicity for the 2020 strike was widespread. In response to amendments to labour, agricultural laws, the Grameen Bandh also came along and as a reflection of the peasant-worker alliance, both the peasants and the working class responded in an unprecedented way.

Massive rally was organised by trade unions at Dharna Chowk, Hyderabad. Kisan and agricultural union and other mass organisations held a rally at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Hyderabad. On the occasion of Grameen Bandh, rallies and demonstrations were organised in all the districts. Speaking in a meeting in the background of the general strike, AIAWU secretary, B Venkat, and TU leaders said that the central government is attacking constitutional rights of the people. In the name of ‘ease of doing business’, BJP is pursuing policies that are beneficial to the corporates, against the interests of workers, farmers and the marginalized sections of the people. How can it be patriotic if LIC and Indian Railways, which are running in profit and employing lakhs of workers are privatised. In a meeting, in support of the strike, near Indira Park, B Vinodkumar, vice president of Planning Commission, questioned Modi‘s patriotism when he is selling LIC, railways and defence sectors to corporates. Banda Prakash,  Rajya Sabha member said Modi government’s decision allowing a 12 hours’ working day is shocking. There is a conspiracy to transform the working class into a ‘slave class’. National assets are not owned by BJP but is the wealth of the nation.

WORKERS, EMPLOYEES IN STRIKE
Because of the diligent efforts of the workers’ leadership, most of the worker’s unions participated in this strike. Central public sector units, middle-class employees, heavy, middle and small units and unorganised workers; more than 25 lakhs participated in this strike. The state units of working-class and employees’ unions joined the central trade unions and formed a united front and worked with co-ordination.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi which is ruling the state announced its support for the strike. The attack by the central government on PSUs was condemned by the chief minister in the press meet twice.  The affiliated unions of ruling TRS, TRSKV actively participated in the strike.

The strike was 100 per cent success in LIC and GIC. Except for one association, all unions in the banking sector unitedly participated in the strike. In the postal department, the staff of all the sectors participated in significant numbers. In pharma, more than 90 per cent struck work. In central PSUs, Singareni, NMDC, BEL, 100 per cent strike took place. The strike was a success in ECIL, BDL, RFCL, and STPC. Thousands of employees and workers struck work in RTC, electricity, medical, government contract and outsourced workers and power loom sectors. It is interesting to watch, that from ASHA, anganwadi, midday meal, IKP and VRA like scheme workers participated from 60 per cent to 100 per cent.

Beedi workers participated in 100 per cent. More than 70 per cent gram panchayat and municipal workers participated in the strike. Nearly four lakhs auto and cabs owners/workers’, and other transport workers and three lakh construction workers participated in the strike. In 1,451, heavy, medium, and small sectors, three lakh workers participated in the strike and expressed their anger against central government amendments to labour laws. Along with them, four lakh unorganised workers participated in the strike.