Mumbai braces for massive workers' procession

Mumbai: Over two lakh workers from all over Maharashtra are expected to join a protest march led by the Shiv Sena Monday ahead of the proposed two-day all India strike called by various trade unions later this week.

With workers arriving in Mumbai from across the state, traffic jams began from early in the morning. The workers will assembly at Byculla, and march to Azad Maidan about five kilometres away. The march is to protest rising inflation, increased privatisation, erosion of job security, the government's anti-labour policies and the rise of contractual arrangements among other things.

Monday's protest march draws support from almost three dozen top labour organisations, cutting across party affiliation. Banking, insurance and financial sector unions are set to participate. Some banks, including the State Bank of India, have announced two hours of extra work Monday in view of the holiday that will be observed Tuesday in Maharashtra for Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti, which will be followed by the two-day nationwide strike Wednesday and Thursday.