“Some leaders are permanently unhappy…When they are determined to go on strike, no measure by the government will change their stance,” said Virjesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

While 10 central trade unions have stuck to their call for a nation wide strike on Friday, Upadhyay said that the BMS decided to withdraw as it is happy with the government’s response to demands of the workers.

In an interview to BusinessLine , Upadhyay also rejected claims that the BMS has been directed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to not oppose the BJP government. Excerpts:

Has the BMS withdraw from the strike due to its affiliation to the RSS?

BMS is not running a political outfit. The decision to withdraw from the strike was solely ours and was not decided by anyone else. BMS had boycotted the strike call even in 2011 during the tenure of the UPA government.

Why were our political motives not questioned then?

Central trade unions have said that the central advisory board’s meeting on wage hike was inconclusive yet the government claimed to have accepted their proposal?

By its very name, it is clear that the CAB is an advisory body and not a decision making body. The decision had to be taken by the government on the exact quantum of hike in minimum wages.

Is BMS happy with the wage hike?

Even the highest paid chief executive officer of a company is not satisfied with his salary. The minimum wage set in 2005 of ₹102 per day has now been increased to ₹350 per day. This is the first time in 11 years that minimum wages have been hiked and it is a cause for celebration.

What is your stance on the 12-point charter of demands of the other central trade unions?

Of the 12 point charter, we believe that at least four demands such as those relating to containing unemployment and price rise are not measurable. But on the other eight issues, we feel that it is for the first time the Central government has had a point-by-point discussion of the demands of trade unions. In the past, none of the other governments has shown such consideration. All I can say is that some leaders are permanently unhappy.

What is the membership of BMS? Will your state level workers be going on strike?

We have 3 crore worker members and 6,000 affiliated unions. None of them will be striking work on Friday.

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