There is a way by which you come to know about strikes: hearsay!
You would not have heard about it in the first place, but you suddenly see the info popping out of the mouth of a colleague or friend in a startling revelation: there’s a strike very soon. Most probably, he/she would be unaware of the D-day day and date as well as the reason behind the strike (so that you can’t ‘plan’ things or chart an itinerary with some authenticity…che!)
Or it could be when you are travelling, when someone beside you, over and above the din of the vinatage bus engine, growling to his fellow passenger in chaste Malayalam: it is going to be a strike.
Rarest of the rare cases, practically non-existent are the cases, when I have come across the news of a strike in its virgin form from the media.
So why this Kolaveri Di, why the strike? A PIB update reads:
In a meeting with ministers yesterday, the representatives of the Central Trade Unions reiterated their demand for the Government to take concrete measures to contain price rise, to ensure employment generation, strict enforcement of labour laws, universal social security for unorganized and organized workers, stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State Public Sector Undertakings.
Some of the issues raised by them also related to payment of minimum wages of Rs.10,000/-, abolition of contract labour, payment of equal wages and benefits to contract workers at par with regular workers, removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund, increasing the quantum of gratuity, assured pension for all, compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Convention No.87 and 98.
How comprehensive and well researched a piece of demand-set!
These are the issues of socialism put forth in an era of capitalism. And both being distinctly incompatible is not helpful in advancing a solution. At least that is the reality.
So in a way, the strike makes sense and in a way, it is nonsense.
It makes sense because losses to the tune of several 1000 crores are going to be incurred by the nation in 48 hours taking the message of strike in a strong manner to the upper echelons of society.
It is nonsense, because it is not going to make any change in the picture. The industries would absorb the losses and would simply nudge the workers to put forth double the effort in a bid to overcome losses.
Thus, the workers stand to lose from the strike! Of course, if they are not in Kerala.
In Kerala, we take strikes for granted as holidays, (workaholics like me are an exception; we work from home) and guess what, spend the money on booze (again, people like me are an exception here).
So, while Keralites through strikes advance the prospects of liquor industry, other states who take part in strikes makes a dent on GDP. This is a shameful state of affairs.
I will sum up with a conversation:
Yesterday, I was talking to my colleague in Gujarat about the strike. He shared the same plight of mine, he heard about the strike from me only!
“Has any one expired?” he asked quizzing to know the reason.
“No…it is about the trade unions and their demands…”I said. “It is going to be an all-India affair.”
“Boss...” he joked, “we don’t live in India.”
Clarification: My friend was not being secessionist. He knew strike would not affect Gujarat. He also knew strike would affect Kerala. He was apparently taking a dig at that.
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