Just Me - India

Sep 29, 2005 - An All-India Strike has been called for. Guess what - its reasonably successful.

Who are on strike?

• Airport Employees
• Bank Employees
• Transport Workers - Buses/Autos - in many places
• There are more i do not know of or cannot recall.

Why are they on strike?

• To protest against governments privatization drive of airports
• Many for no reason at all - just because their trade union belongs to the same trade union as the ones that wants to strike. So more like - for support
• To protest against some government policies - with which - they may or may not have anything to do.

Where are all the people who are on strike located?

• All over India !

What does this mean?

• Banks are closed
• No transport available in several places/cities in India.
• Airports are either disfunctional (Calcutta) or operating on low traffic; with skeleton staff.
• Opportunity to do mischief
• Tremendous inconvenience to the common man.
• Loss of earnings/money for the daily wage earner - he will not recover the losses.
• Loss of production and money for several big manufacturing units ! especially govt. owned. As if anybody cares?
• Disrepute.

Are these kind of Strikes Common in India?

Yes, they used to be fairly common. In recent years, though they have become less frequent. But by and large there are far too many of them, compared to other places in the world.

Who calls for these Strikes or supports them?

Ostensibly it is the Trade Unions. But, that is definitely not the complete story. These are called with backing of Political Parties. Trade Unions are simply the front to carry them out. For example the current one is supported by the left-wing parties. Not surprisingly, it is usually the party which is not in power, that calls for strikes.

What are the usual reasons for Strikes?

• Protest against price rise of a commodity - like fuel or railway tickets
• Protest against some kind of violence or atrocity, real or perceived.
• Demand for Salary Hike
• Against the govt policies - in general - or specific. for eg: protest against privatization of Insurance Sector.

Are all Strikes unreasonable?

This is very difficult to answer. Depends on whom you are talking to. Generally most strikes have been unreasonable, and most importantly they don't really serve anyone.

When and how did this practice start?

Like everywhere else in the world, strikes are a way of protest. But, there is something very unique about them in India - w.r.t how the idea spread in recent times - ok over the last century.

During the first part of 20th century(Britishers left India in 1947) , when Britishers were ruling India; Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters adopted the idea of - "Non-Co-operation" against the British government - as a non-violent wayof protesting against British rule in India. This was reasonably successful. It required people to gather and take out protest marches in a peaceful manner, burn foreign imported textile, keep the shops shutdown (not conduct business), not attend work etc. This did help the cause to some extent, and served its purpose in those days.

BUT, unfortunately after India gained independence, the practice continued, and degenerated into the present day form. So, there were/are strikes galore. And it is no longer peaceful. If people close their shops, and don't go to work when a strike is called for - it is usually - out of fear of violence.

Why are the Strikes allowed - why are they not banned?

• In a democracy you should have a way to protest. Way to voice your opinion.
• Lack of will of the government. When the political party which is in power today, is no longer in power tomorrow, it will indulge in strikes to paralyze the government.
• There have indeed been judgements from courts - that several strikes that have happened are illegal. But, it is the bureaucracy and legislature that has to implement the judgement. The will is clearly lacking.
• An unwritten rule - that - that the services of govt. servants cannot be terminated. Usually the only action taken against them (if the need arises) is to deny promotion or send them to a different office to work in. This results in govt. servants becoming very often unaccountable for their actions. And therefore, it is very often that government employees are on strike.