On Thursday, trade unions called a nationwide strike to protest alleged anti-worker policies of the central government. The strike had a limited impact, with most services largely unaffected.
Public transport, banks, and government offices continued to operate normally in most regions. Demonstrations and work disruptions were seen in only a few areas.
Trade unions organized meetings and demonstrations across many states, and some workers reported being late for work to show their support.
Reports indicated a mixed response across states, including Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
The trade unions claimed that "a large number of people, including workers, farmers, and other groups, joined the protest".
A joint platform of the Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations, along with the constituents of Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the joint front of agricultural workers' unions, successfully organized strike actions and mobilizations in over 600 districts of the country.
In Delhi, trade unions organized processions in all industrial areas. A meeting was held at Jantar Mantar, attended by central trade union leaders.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders said that "markets across the country are open, and trade is normal".
However, reports indicated that normal life was partly affected in Odisha.
Public transport, markets, educational institutions, and business establishments were affected due to blocked major roads, including national and state highways.
The strike had a significant impact in major urban areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Berhampur, and Sambalpur.
In Jharkhand, the banking, insurance, and coal sectors were affected. Bank of India (BOI) Employees' Union state Deputy General Secretary Umesh Das stated that the strike affected these sectors.
Left parties and the Congress also extended their support to the strike.
In Chhattisgarh, several nationalized banks remained closed as employees joined the strike. Staff of insurance companies, post offices, and labourers and farmers also participated in the agitation, affecting operations in their respective sectors.
Mining activities in the mineral-rich state were partially hit.
However, transport services in the state functioned normally, and shops, markets, and most business establishments remained open.
Normal life was largely unaffected in many areas, including the Durg district in Chhattisgarh, where operations at the Bhilai Steel Plant continued as usual.
Port operations in Tamil Nadu were affected as workers staged protests. Port operations in Thoothukudi and Chennai were particularly affected.
The industrial hub of Sriperumbudur also witnessed significant activity as workers from several manufacturing units held gate meetings and demonstrations.
While production in some major automobile and electronic facilities continued with reduced manpower, the movement of goods in the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial belt faced delays due to the scarcity of transport vehicles.
In Kerala, though the state government declared a day of non-working for government employees, attendance at offices remained low as transport vehicles stayed off the roads.
Travellers were among the worst affected, with KSRTC and private buses remaining off the roads.
Punjab's ruling party, AAP, extended support to the nationwide strike.
The agitation drew a mixed response in Goa, with banking operations affected while essential services remained undisrupted. Nationalised banks and offices of many insurance companies remained shut in the coastal state.
Over 25,000 civilian employees working with defence establishments across Madhya Pradesh reported to work an hour late on Thursday to support the strike. Markets, schools, and colleges remained open across the state.
The strike call failed to evoke any response in West Bengal as vehicles plied normally and state government and private offices recorded usual turnout.
Similarly, the strike call failed to evoke much response in Tripura. Government offices, banks, educational institutions, and markets remained open, while road transport and train services operated as usual.
The protest saw little impact in Gujarat, with most services and commercial establishments functioning as usual.
Normal life remained largely unaffected in major cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
Markets, shops, industrial units, and educational institutions operated without disruption, while public transport services and autorickshaws ran without any problem.
The trade unions' demands include the scrapping of four labour codes, the withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill, and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act.
Unions are also demanding the restoration of MGNREGA and the scrapping of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The joint forum includes unions such as INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
