There were times when workers had to strike to make factory owners listen to their legitimate demands. On some occasions, strikes to mark a protest became quintessential to make factory managements reverse anti-labor moves.
But, what made the owners listen when their employees stayed away from work? Each workday they lost, they were losing revenue. Loss of profit, tarnished market reputation, and failure to make the promised delivery drove managements to heed the workers’ demand. Minimum it forced them to negotiate.
From a historical perspective, worker unions worldwide have had a role in bringing sweeping labor reforms. Why were they required? A century back, in the early stages of industrialization, the plight of the workers was horrible. They were made to slog in inhuman working conditions, toil for 14-16 hours for paltry wages. So from there to the present day, the journey required enormous labor struggles and losses.
Now, that’s the rational part of labor unions and strikes. But unfortunately, there is another side.
We all know humans are not alike. Justice is not a trait of every born human. So what happens when men with vested interests and political ambitions usurp the idea of labor unions and worker strikes. And, what happens when political parties steer labor movements or mimic one for political activism? Then strikes become a political tool.
That’s what is happening in our country. Every major political party runs a trade or labor union. The government workforce or trade bodies align with any of these unions believing they would address their concerns. Do they? How far do they take up workers’ or traders’ issues without harboring political outcomes?
For political parties, operating a trade or labor union, calling for a general strike/hartal/bandh when in opposition (in the state or center) helps them win political brownies. When they call for a total closure, the Government will lose one day’s revenue. But not just the Government, the common man too.
Those dependent on daily wages, and the simple street-side vendor, will not be able to carry home that meager sum they earn because some labor or trade union affiliated with a political party called for hartal/bandh. Who is going to pay them? Similarly, government employees taking part in a strike lose the day’s pay.
The darker side of these strikes is they are forced on people. Political parties rally their men, pelt stones, and threaten shops to shut down. Is this the way an outcry for public cause is enacted? Instead, they should let people to their choice. Those who find the call for a strike meaningful will participate and show solidarity; otherwise, they will conduct their business. Isn’t that a democratic way of leading a strike?
“Dear trade unions, if you are protesting that Government is enforcing something upon you, good, you protest. But that does not grant you the right to enforce your protest on your fellow citizen. If your reasons and rationals are in place, convince people to participate, don’t scare them or bully them, to achieve your objectives.”