National strike complete in Kerala; normal life affected
Synopsis
The national strike affected normal life in Kerala. Buses, taxis and private vehicles are keeping off the road. For the first time, the functioning of the VSSC was affected in the stir.
The National Strike by joint trade unions against the labour reforms initiated by the Union Government hit normal life in Kerala. The strike is complete in the state and passenger vehicles, including buses, taxis and autorikshaws are keeping off the road. Even private vechicles are rarely seen on roads.
The functioning of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram (VSSC) was affected for the first time. The trade union activists stopped the buses taking employees to the centre. CPM leader V Sivankutty said that the ISRO was not exempted from the strike. The unionists also stopped autorikshaw service at Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station.
Trade union activists prevented BMS workers who reached Apollo tyres at Kodakara in Thrissur. The employees who turned up at FACT in Kochi were also stopped by striking labourers.
Shops and business establishments remain closed across the state and hundreds of trucks are held up at border check posts.