The strike that broke Bombay

 

 

The 1982 mill workers’ strike was to impact more lives than expected. It pushed the mill workers on the brinks of poverty and sowed the seeds of developmental change for the entire Mumbai City. Conventionally, the bonus payable would always be decided by the State CM, mill owners and the representative workers’ unions. It was the usual Diwali season of 1981 and the CM announced the bonus. But workers of the profit-making mills were not happy with it. The workers marched straight into Dr Datta Samant’s Ghatkopar office. Samant was not actually willing to become a party to this crusade. He refused to lead them but the workers were adamant. Ultimately, he gave into their persistant demand and agreed to be their leader. It was announced that the strike would begin from January 18, 1982. There was a crackdown on the workers guarding the mill gates. Goons were let loose to create an atmosphere of terror. Outside workers were recruited in the mills under police protection. Almost six months had passed but the workers were still not willing to get back to work. This is where the leadership of Dr Samant failed. Many tried to convince Dr Samant, but in vain. The mill owners and the government exploited the situation and forced the strike to break down with the help of police and goons.

Almost half the mill workers (100,000) lost their jobs. Their lives were ruined. Even those who could get back to work had huge amounts of loans to pay off. In general, the workers had to pay a heavy price for this strike. The government was a party to the schemes of the mill owners and had its own selfish interests. The workers ended up losers. Dr Samant should have understood that keeping the jobs was more important for the workers than a wage-hike. (1982)

Datta Iswalkar, President, ‘Girani Kamgar’