Nationwide trade union strike today against labour codes; industries may be hit

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 12, 2026: Trade unions have called for a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against the four labour codes and to press for a charter of demands, including the reinstatement of MGNREGA.

Though normal life and public transport are expected to remain largely unaffected, industrial production in and around the city may face disruption.

Workers in key industrial hubs such as Bidadi, Kumbalgodu, Jigani, Bommasandra, Narasapura, Peenya, Vemagal, Dobbspet, Electronics City and Whitefield are likely to stay away from work in support of the strike. Protest meetings have also been planned in these areas, union leaders said.

Employees of government-owned undertakings such as BSNL and LIC have announced their participation. However, other public sector institutions, including transport corporations and banks, are expected to function as usual.

Under the banner of the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), 11 unions will stage a demonstration at Town Hall at 11.30 am and court arrest. Workers from various sectors are expected to take part in the protest, JCTU coordinator K.V. Bhat said.

“This may not directly affect public life, but industrialists and IT-BT entrepreneurs will feel the impact. Even a day’s halt in production results in losses worth crores. The importance of workers will then be realised,” said CITU president Meenakshi Sundaram and secretary S. Varalakshmi.

Key demands include:

Repeal of the four labour codes

Reinstatement of MGNREGA

Withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Act

Rollback of amendments to the Land Reforms Act, APMC Act and Cattle Protection Act

Halt to privatisation of electricity

Withdrawal of the Seeds Act

Repeal of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025

Cancellation of the state notification implementing the four labour codes

Increase in minimum wages

Non-implementation of what unions term “anti-people” Central laws in Karnataka