The public transport system in Kerala is set to witness major disruptions for two days. While private bus operators will go on a token strike on Tuesday (July 8, 2025), this will be followed by a nationwide general strike called by various trade unions on Wednesday (July 9, 2025).
Private bus owners under the Joint Committee of Bus Owners have decided to go on the scheduled Statewide token strike on Tuesday as the meeting held between the representatives of the bus owners and the transport commissioner failed to address the issues raised by the former.
Private bus owners across Kerala have also warned of an indefinite strike from July 22 if the government fails to address their long-pending demands.
Key demands
The key demands raised by the bus owners include renewal of expired permits without delay, withdrawal of the directive converting limited-stop buses into ordinary services, revision of student concession rates, and withdrawal of the requirement for police clearance certificates for bus workers, among others.
The 24-hour national strike called by 10 Central trade unions on July 9 on a 17-point charter of demands will begin on Tuesday midnight, and the strike is expected to paralyse the public transport system and normal life in Kerala as the State-level joint committee of trade unions had appealed to the general public and workers to make the proposed strike a success in protest against the “anti-worker, anti-farmer” policies of the Union government.
