Comments on: Because Bernie Sanders Said It

By: Sudhir Kulkarni

Sudhir Kulkarni — Sat, 03 May 2025 07:05:15 +0000

There was a time in our country (and in many for that matter) when everything seemed to revolve over Labour and Working Clas, be it Movies, Public Debates, Political power and discourse. But with the near death of the Unions and the emergency of Gold Collared Work Force, the basic concern for the person who provides labour/effort for the Organisations to flourish, seems to have evaporated.
I was aghast to read that we have to live with contradiction of lay-offs, while those very companies enjoy record profit. Isn’t it a cynical paradox that CEO salaries have increased by 50% in last 5 years while that of labour by less than 1% in real income and 1 hour earnings of a CEO is equivalent to the annual salary of a worker.
Can there be a greater testimony of the world getting increasingly selfish, if not inhuman? And with the likes of Trump ruling the most powerful democracies,. where is the hope for the labour to get their fair share. Or is it that they bartered it when the going was good by their unreasonable demands and agitations???

By: Varda Pendse

Varda Pendse — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:40:52 +0000

Thank you….right and appropriate blog on labour day.
Do we really care about the people who toil to get things done ? From romantic notions of labour we have actually forgotten labour. Labour class denotes the low income group…who have no voice or presence other than during election time. No stories No movies No songs and definetly not in general public consciousness at all. Even the labour class does not think or speak about themselves …when stories are lost so is the class.
1st May is a holiday. BUSS !
So I hope your blog is the voice which echos and reverberates through through our consciousness, thoughts and action of your readers and beyond.
Will read the book recommended

By: T S Ramanathan

T S Ramanathan — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:49:18 +0000

Very rightly analysed and pointed out. Every organization needs to have a union or association to fight for the fundamental rights of the employees. In a few cases these unions overshoot their rights and become corrupt and twisted to become puppets of the management but these are stray cases happening all over the world. But absence of any unions in an organization will completely destroy the fundamental rights of employees and leave them at the mercy of the greedy employer. Sir, you have very rightly touched upon a very important aspect of industrial relations (or rather destruction of the same) in so called modern organizations..
Thanks a lot for bringing up this very sensitive topic to light…

By: Vineet kaul

Vineet kaul — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:33:33 +0000

Dear Vivek, Thanks for sharing this excellent article …yes the real wages are reducing over the years.
The Samsung episode is another example wherein management wants to decide which Union/Leader will represent the workmen. The TN govt too says that Samsung Unit is following a ” global policy”!!!!
We have numerous such cases –

I started my career @ Telco Pune in 1976 – The mandate from Top was ” Come what may,we will not deal/allow any ‘ External’Union /Leader. There was also the phase in the late 50’s @TISCO Jamshedpur when the Communist led ” Unions were crushed ??
Based on your recommendation , will read Bernie Sanders book .
Thanks once again Sir

By: Vikas Shirodkar

Vikas Shirodkar — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:34:26 +0000

Another tour de force Vivek. Thanks for reminding us all in the labour n mgt field of the basic issues that need debate n handling. These are well known but quickly forgotten. Or spoken about over cocktails for people of my category
Time for the wake up call n some real action
Thanks for using Bernie to make that call
Ask not for whom the bell tolls my friends
It tolls for each one of us in this field

By: Nandeeta

Nandeeta — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:24:26 +0000

Thought provoking post . Never thought of it this way . Will read Bernie Sanders book now .

By: Komal

Komal — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:39:48 +0000

Lovely read very insightful!

By: Sachin

Sachin — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:56:46 +0000

Sir, I read this on a day where I am grieving the loss of an Industry Leader, who stood with workers and yet created history across industrial sectors, turning around ailing companies, facing off political games and still created jobs across the world!Clearly amassing wealth was not the sole end for this industrialist!

Your reflections are a call for pragmatic industrial relations which will pave the way for a dignified society. Looking forward to more of your reflections!!

By: Dr. Sharad Sawant

Dr. Sharad Sawant — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:24:47 +0000

Thank you Sangam. Yes, trade unions have not equal but more than equal competency to pursue sustainable growth of the production unit. Hence the movement for labour education to which you are also a part!

By: Sangam Tripathy

Sangam Tripathy — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:14:56 +0000

Wow! Very interesting reading your thoughts about Bernie’s book. Bernie all through his life has pursued independent politics. And he is still an elected independent senator. He is a big supporter of Unions and had famously said that “it was the trade union movement that built the middle class in United States of America.