Trade unions’ stir: Harrowing time for common man

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 2

The strike called by central trade unions gave a harrowing time to the city residents, especially commuters as all Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses remained off roads.

The disruption in rail traffic due to a protest by farmers’ bodies came as a double whammy as many trains, including the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express, were held up for several hours at Ludhiana or nearby railway stations of Phillaur, Goraya and Phagwara.

Trade union leaders claimed there was a total “chakka jam” as roadways employees joined the protest and no public bus left the bus depot. As a result, private buses remained the only option for the stranded passengers. These buses were overloaded with some carrying passengers on rooftops.

All public sector banks, except the State Bank of India, took part in the strike. The total transaction loss from Ludhiana district was more than Rs500 crore.

“Bank official are being denied regulated working hours. Permanent and regular jobs are being outsourced on contract and contractual employees are being exploited,” said Naresh Gaur, secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation.

Life Insurance Corporation Employees under the banner of North Zone Insurance Employees Association joined the strike. Employees of BSNL also observed strike.

No work at SBoP branches

Patiala: Banking services were hit following the all-India strike call given by various trade organisations. Work at State Bank of Patiala branches was completely affected. “Our entire business was hit as the employees did not turn up and only the officers were present,” said an official. The strike, however, did not have much impact on most of the public sector banks although Class III and IV employees joined the strike.

The strike received a mixed response so far as public transport was concerned. Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi also joined the protest.

Rail, road traffic hit

Phagwara: Road and rail traffic remained affected for more than four hours in and around the town. Amritsar-bound Shatabdi Express remained stranded at Phagwara, Shan-e-Punjab Express at Phillaur, Mumbai-Jammu Tawi Express at Goraya, Nangal Dam Express at Chiherru, Jalandhar-Jejon Express at Behram, Ludhiana-bound Flying Mail at Suranasi, Malwa Express at Jalandhar Cantt and Shaheed Express at Jalandhar due to the “rail roko” agitation, near Dakoha railway crossing between Phagwara and Jalandhar this afternoon. Normal traffic was restored at 5.05 pm. Road traffic remained partially paralysed due to strike by Punjab Roadways and Pepsu staff. The buses of private companies plied normally.

Banking, postal services hit

Ropar: Employees of several departments observed strike all over the district today. Activists of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) blocked traffic on the Ropar-Nawanshahr road near new bus stand. Banking and postal services remained paralysed.

Bankers join stir in Moga

Moga: Public transport was partially affected in the district. The clients of public sector banks, except the SBI, faced inconvenience as the employees joined the protest. The employees of Punjab Roadways buses also went on a strike due to which all roadways buses remained off roads. The protesters blocked the Moga-Jalandhar highway at Dharamkot for two hours.

Activists of INTUC carried out protest march through the main bazaar and various streets raising slogans against the government.

Essential services hit in Fazilka

Fazilka: Essential services such as banking, insurance, post office and transport remained paralysed in this border district as activists of trade unions observed a complete strike. Hundreds of employees gathered at local Pratap Bagh and took out a protest march in the town. The protest was led by state-level office-bearers of various unions, including Harbhajan Singh Khunger, Balbir Singh Kathgarh, Harbans Singh, Bakhtawar Singh and Karnail Singh.