Nation-wide strike begins

Thiruvananthapuram: The 24-hour, nation-wide strike by joint action council of trade unions began at midnight on Friday.

All trade unions excluding BMS are participating in the strike. The strike is affecting normal life in many parts of the country. In Kochi, tension prevailed in front of some industrial units where BMS workers reported for duty. There was also tension at the Thiruvananthapuram Railway station as some autorikshaws of supporters of BMS lined up to offer service.

Though the organisers of the strike have not said that private vehicles should keep off the roads, vehicles had been blocked in places such as Kochi. Essential services such as distribution of milk and newspapers and hospital services have been excluded from the strike.

The strike is to press for 18-point demands of the trade unions including raising of minimum wages to Rs. 18000 a month and checking of price rise. The unions have demanded social welfare schemes for the unorganised sector and creation of more job opportunities.

Update:
Trade union workers blocked the VSSC garage at Marappalam, preventing the buses there from ferrying staff to VSSC. This is the first time that a trade union strike affected the functioning of VSSC. Companies in Technopark were also affected by the strike.