Government employees' strike: a study in white collar unionism in India

THE TRADITIONAL hypothesis that the white collar unions are not militant and action-oriented is losing its validity. The rising price level has robbed the white collar workers of their illusory respect ability and now their strategies and tactics are no more different from those adopted by the blue collar employees.

The present study of the U.P. State Employees' Agitation surveys the back ground, the courses adopted by the parties, strategy of the union leaders, the role played by the rank and file, problems encountered by the leadership and the final outcome. As Shri V. V. Giri says in his foreword, This study covers a most explosive area in labour relations, namely the Government and its employees. Dr. Pandey has drawn certain important conclusions which also carry policy im plications. With a view to preventing the Government employees from the hazards associated with direct action, it is necessary that the policy implications of this study are carefully examined. This is the first analysis of a conflict in the Government-employment relations in India.