Comments on: Workers Be Damned – The Akbarallys story

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:50:39 +0000

This is absurd! It defies all common sense. If a business fails & is suffering losses, how can they afford to continue operating & pay their employees? Obviously they can not. These 40 people who got the sack should realize that this part of being an employee! It’s a risk every wage-worker or employee has to live with. Jobs by definition are not meant to be secure sources of income. When you’re working a job you are at the mercy of your employer, you don’t have the freedom to decide what work you do & theres nothing much you could possibly do other than cry if you get fired.

My suggestion to these people is that they get off their asses & start looking for other work. Playing cards, knitting & whining won’t get them anywhere. This is not an issue of justice or injustice. It’s an issue of employees taking their jobs for granted when in fact, they’re the ones at the receiving end & they should accept the fact that their employer’s business failed & therefore (very legitimately and quite rightly so) they lost their jobs, and move on.

By: D M Sheth

D M Sheth — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:43:30 +0000

Good that u drew attention to the plight of employees.May good sense prevail with entrepreneurs and industrialist in India and workers get there legitimate dues.Many times we hear people donating lacs sometimes crores to get name in papers and thier respective communities but whats the point if u cannot look after your employees who has given best part of his life working for you

By: Another court hearing at To Each It’s Own

Another court hearing at To Each It’s Own — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 13:36:02 +0000

[...] Day before one of the lady employees called in, generally inquiring about the post and its responses. She was also wondering if any newspaper agency had taken interest in printing their cause. The eagerness in her voice could not be missed. I was pleased to inform her of the great acknowledgment from our blog world, but beyond that there was no concrete help I had to offer. Somehow I feel I have let them down?if only something more would come out of this virtual publicity. I hung up promising to drop by later with the post printouts. At 5:30 in the evening I was there once again sitting amongst the workers. All searching for some glimmer of hope; seeing and reading the posts with its various comments. Unfortunately the court hearing only brought about an extension to the case. Another hearing is to take place on the 19th of April. The management asked for more time to settle matters, preferring an out-of-court settlement. They are still stuck on the 50,000 amount, not willing to consider the workers demands. One worker further said “Knowing our judicial system, we expect something similar on the 19th too. God only knows when our misery will come to an end.” The management is unnecessarily prolonging the settlement; the delay is costing the workers, their valuable time and energy. Hence they are going to appeal for a two months (or further) salary. An attendance record has been maintained from the 10th of February. Each and every one of them thanked me profusely for my efforts. Appreciation glittered in their eyes. It deeply hurts to see their state?.committed workers with family and children, now on the streets?.battling their cause day-in and day-out. No one to hold their hand! What hurts more is to read comments suggesting, that workers should go out looking for another job rather than fighting for their rights. How can one close his/her eyes to a brutal reality? Theirs is no more young blood, getting over and moving on after a chapter like this is not easy. It’s even more pathetic to see media giving importance to an actor’s new born baby but updating on pressing issues is of no concern to them. We don’t need strong movies (Rang de basanti) and documentaries to inspire our younger generation, these people and their lives are more than enough. They stand united, fighting for what they deserve?.one fine day?the world WILL listen! Full story : Workers Be Damned – The Akbarallys story [...]

By: Usman

Usman — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 04:21:11 +0000

Touching indeed. what happened to the court case on 27th?

By: Chanad

Chanad — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:43:07 +0000

Great article.

By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » India: Workers left on the streets

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:40:17 +0000

[...] A huge store shuts down, and leaves its workers on the streets. Saakshi reports on the closure of AkbarAllys. [...]

By: aparna

aparna — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:42:44 +0000

Hi,

Very well written article. It lets the reader get a detailed picture of the workers’ plight. Thanks for bringing this out.

Today saw that your article has been picked up by Boing Boing. Good work!

Btw the post is up – http://newsinlimerick.blogspot.com/2006/03/of-lives-locked-out.html

By: Padmini

Padmini — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 22:23:20 +0000

Hi!
I live in NYC but I read your post about the employees. I hope and pray everything works out for them. I used to go to the Akbarallys near Churchgate very often and I can’t believe the management would do something so crass. I hope their issues are sorted out. God be with them.
Padmini

By: Saakshi O. Juneja

Saakshi O. Juneja — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 07:30:00 +0000

Will update on the verdict soon.

By: arZan

arZan — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 05:33:34 +0000

Sakshi

That’s a really great article. I remember seeing the protesting employees when i passed by SV road in early february. I am surprised that there has been no coverage in the mainstream media, or at least something I am not aware of.

It’s shocking that a store like akbarallys would do something. Its one thing for them to close down stores and consolidate business, but to treat employees thus does not bode well for a family run establishment.

Thanks for bringing this out.