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Quelling a strike attempt

 


I was attached to the Industrial Relations Department in Penang when the Chief Minister asked me to investigate a ‘strike’ by some unorganised workers at a factory in the Industrial Estate of the state. When I reached the site I was surprised to see all the employees milling around the factory. I was not able to identify who the leaders were as there was no trade union on the premises. I told the crowd I was there to to help them sort out whatever grouses or problems they had with their employer. I advised them they should return to their work stations or else they would not be paid wages for the day and that I was prepared to assist their leaders to find a solution for their grievance. 


Out of the crowd one guy came forward and whispered to me that the leaders would like to meet me in my office on condition of anonymity and if I agreed they would tell the workers to return to work. I agreed and told the guy I shall meet their leaders at 2.00pm in my office. The milling workers returned to their workstations soon after and I returned to the office to meet up with the leaders to hear their grouses.The employer was surprised at the turn of events and wanted to know who the leaders were. I did not wish to disclose that information as the leaders would be terminated from employment if information was provided to the employer. I then informed my Head of Department that I had scheduled a meeting with the leaders of the striking employees at the office and that we should not be disturbed. On hindsight, I realised that this was a mistake as the Head was from the Labour Department and was guided by the laws and regulations enforced by his department. He did not understand the workings of the Industrial Relations Department where trust and confidentiality were paramount in bringing up peace in industry. 


At about 2.00pm while I was having the meeting I was shocked to see the employer coming to the very room where I was conducting the meeting. He took note of the leaders and declared, 

“OK, I shall meet the demands of the employees but I want the leaders to be dismissed for organising this illegal strike.”  I told my Head of Department that if the leaders come to know that he was the cause of their dismissal then they would organise a meeting to ensure that he would be punished for his indiscretion. But then it was too late as the leaders had been punished by the employer and did not know who was the cause of their misfortune.




   All contents (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com


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