West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she had support for the “issues” on which the strike had been called on January 8 by 10 central trade unions, but did not support the notion of strike itself.
Ten central trade unions said that around 25 crore people across the country will participate in a nation-wide strike on January 8 to protest “anti-people” policies of the Centre. INTUC, CITU, AITUC, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with several independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration to go on a nation-wide strike on January 8.
Banerjee today said that she did not approve of the concept of a shutdown, because it meant no work for many people. “The way things are now, there is in any case lack of jobs. We cannot afford to have another day of shutdown,” she said. “From the time we have come to power, we do not support strikes, and have never called one,” Banerjee added.
The Bengal government has issued an order for employees to compulsorily attend work on January 8, else they would lose out on a day of pay. Casual leaves cannot be taken on that day, unless there is medical emergency.
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