Trade unions protests in central zone against Centre’s ‘anti-worker’ and ‘anti-farmer’ policies

Members of various trade unions, led by the CITU, staged a road block near Mainguard Gate and BSNL Office in Tiruchi on Monday, demanding labour protection laws must be re-enforced.

| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY

Several members of different central trade unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha staged protests and blocked road in Tiruchi and other districts in the central zone on Monday against the “anti-worker” and “anti-farmer” policies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government.A slew of protests organised at various places in the zone led to the arrest of many members of the trade unions. The trade unions demanded the Centre to repeal the four Labour Codes implemented by the NDA government and termed it as “anti-labour”. They demanded the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025, and opposed the privatisation of public sector undertakings.They demanded the Centre to withdraw the free trade agreements with the European Union and the United States as it would severely affect the livelihood of farmers besides the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) in the country. The protesters demanded the Centre to allocate higher funds for the education sector and withdraw privatisation of education.In Tiruchi, several members of trade unions such as the Centre of Indian Trade Union, All India Centre of Trade Unions, and the All India Central Council of Trade Unions resorted to a road roko stir near the BSNL office after taking out a procession from Teppakulam when they were all arrested. Protests in the form of demonstrations and road blocks were held in Perambalur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai districts at various places leading to the arrest of many members of central trade unions, said the police. Published - August 10, 2026 07:04 pm IST