At a very early age, barely 23 or 24, I lived through a 52-day strike at ABP. We missed 2 salaries. @mjakbar & Mallika would give us whatever cash they could. One thing I learned: Labour laws in #India are a means for unions to blackmail management. They do not protect labour. 1n

Trade Unions have used labour laws to either blackmail management to feather the nests of a few and beggar many, or to collaborate with management to feather the nests of a few and beggar many. I have seen it all in 1970s-80s Communist-ruled West Bengal. 2n

When I see folks waxing eloquent about need to protect labour laws I'm reminded of Ray's film Seemabaddha. I find it droll that these champions of labour laws seal their lips and glue their fingers with Fevicol when it comes to IT industry which exploits labour ruthlessly. 3n

A distinct memory of the ABP strike: @TheJaggi continued to buy his copy of The Economist. I think it cost Rs 7.50 those days, a king's fortune, or 11 minibus tickets, or 30 public bus tickets. We'd all stand in a huddle off PS St. Jaggi would be there reading The Economist. 4n

On ABP strike, apocryphal story: Union called the strike at behest of management. Purpose was to get rid of the publisher (Bappaditya Roy?) and sack hot metal print workers who were of no use with advent of offset printing. It proved labour laws are a four-letter word -- LMAO. 5n

Labour laws and unions bankrupted flourishing textile mills of Bombay. Owners were exploiters, unions were protectors myth was made into films like 'Namak Haram'. Strike led by Datta Samant killed all mills. Datta Samant led a life of comfort. Owners turned mills into malls. 6n

"If labour law supposes that it protects labour," said Mr Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass — a idiot.
(Apologies to Charles Dickens.)
EoT. 7n