Is Strike Panacea for solving all the Problems?

With less than five months left for general election, the time is ripe for holding goverment by its throat and get one's demands fulfilled. And goverment seems highly vulnerable at this time of their tenure.

To take full advantage of the situation Oil PSU Officers (not worker), earning close to three Lacs per month, went on to the strike. Similarly Truck Unions are also on strike. Both these strikes is causing immense hardship to the common man. Luckily has not given in to their unjust demands. It should be commended for not getting swayed and resolving to deal it with firm hands.The central govt. asked states to enforce ESMA(Essential services maintainance act) under which a person can be suspended, terminated and even jailed for disrupting the services meant for common man. For the first time govt. brought full page advertisements in the newspapers clearing the whole situation and justifying their stand. It mentioned why the demands are not acceptable. I think this is good sign for Indian democracy where the people are involved in the matters which impact them the most.

With this the erring PSU officers have not only resumed their work but worked during weekends to make up the lost manhours. But the other strike by Truck Union is bound to persist because it being backed up political parties. It has become an important tool wherein the prices especially of food items are bound to increase, so that the common man becomes vocal critic of the goverment thus giving other parties an advantage.

Is it right for a handful of person to hold the entire country to its terms and bring life to stand still ? Does a person should have a right to strike? According to Supreme Court, Constitution does not confer a right to strike. It ruled in "CPM Vs Bharat Kumar & Others case,1998" that Strike is valid only if due process is followed and it does not cause any inconveniences to others. 'Band', 'Chakka Jaam', 'Tools Down' Strike are illegal because they involve an element of Coercion causing psychological fear in the minds of people. There is compulsary shutting down of trade, bussiness, workplaces, educational institutions etc. Its illegal because it violates the fundamental right that is, right to life, of an individual, violating their freedom of movement, their ability to earn wages etc.

Strikes have been an important tool for the workers to have their voice heard by the management. But they should not be allowed when the impact of the strike is borne by the common men. Rather they should use other ways to press for their demands like civil society, media, pressure groups.

In countries like Japan, France people protest not by halting the production but by over producing. In France whenever goverment decides to lower down the subsidy given on agricultural commodities, farmers have replied by giving record production and flooding the market with agricultural products. Similarly in Japan, people protest by working more in their factories. We need to take a clue from these societies and reorient our protest system. For this to happen, politicisation of trade unions must be stopped.