Bihar: Mid-day meal workers strike
24 January 2019: Over 2 lakh mid-day meal workers from across 38 districts of Bihar under the banner of the Bihar Rajya Madhayan Bhojan Rasoiya Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti have been on strike since 7 January 2019 demanding higher honorariums, status of a government employee and a monthly minimum wage of ₹18,000 until they are recognized as government employees.
Workers held a 2 day dharna in Patna and gheraoed the Chief Minister’s residence demanding immediate implementation of their demands. The government has promised to form a team to consider their demands by 1 February 2019.
2,48,000 mid-day meal workers in over 70,000 government primary and middle schools in Bihar are currently paid around ₹1000 per month.
All India General Strike
10 January 2019: The National Convention of Workers held an All India General Strike on 8 and 9 January 2019. The National Convention of Workers put forth its 12 point charter demanding payment of ₹18,000 as minimum wages, social security and pension for all workers, lowering of prices of necessary commodities, abolishment of FTC and an end to outsourcing and contractualisation of public services. Lakhs of workers from across sectors joined a country-wide strike to protest against anti-worker policies like the introduction of Fixed Term Contracts (FTCs) and consolidation of 44 labour laws into 4 codes.
