Brick kiln workers’ strike weakening in certain pockets

“We are being denied permission to set up a relief camp for the displaced workers. We had started making one at an open space which has been damaged by unknown people.

Without a backup support system,the strike has weakened substantially in many pockets. The employers have been successful in forcing as well as enticing workers to join back work in certain areas,” said Sudhir Katyar from the union.

The strike has weakened in Adalaj and other areas of Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile,the established trade unions Like the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) are expecting affiliation before taking up the issue for the unorganised sector.

Also none are aware of the ongoing strike.

Naishad Desai,Gujarat State President of INTUC admitted that the trade unions take no interest in the unorganised sector. “However,if they approach us we will support them even if they do not join us.”

But for AITUC,affiliation is a must to draw support. State president Rajkumar Singh said: “It is necessary for the union to get themselves affiliated to a registered trade union. They need to organise themselves for getting support. We cannot interfere without their legal support.”

The Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS),however,said it will extend immediate support if contacted for help,but was not aware of the strike.

“We have been supporting the strikes of the unorganised sector and demand that the government charts some specific rules for this sector. At present,no trade union across the country has any mechanism to compel employers to follow anything for these workers and also no union has the power to support throughout a complete strike,” said BK Rai,Zonal Incharge for West Zone of BMS.

He added: “The basic arrangement for food for six months has to be done to pull off such a strike,otherwise the strike cannot survive especially when it concerns the unorganised sector.”

The Eent Bhatta Majdoor Union has,meanwhile,not approached unions as it did not find any support earlier for being an unorganised sector.