Mill Strikes

1918-19

1920 January, lasted for one and a half month and involved one lakh fifty thousand workers

1928, May Strike

is widely regarded as one of the major strike in history of working class movement in India. More than a lakh textile workers went on strike in Bombay in May 1928 led by Girni Kamgar Union(GKU) demanding the annulation of the wage reduction, substantial rise in wages for low-paid workers, standardisation of wage scales and the phased and negotiated introduction of the double and three looms system.

The strike engulfed the entire mill area and within a couple of days more than a hundred thousand workers joined the strike. The strike went on for more than five months and caused a stupendous loss of man days. The two sides agreed not to extend the rationalization to new mills, to undo the wage cuts, and to submit the charter of demands to a commission of enquiry.

The most distinctive feature of the strike was the sense of unity and self-control generated among the workers. They had compelled the milliners to talk to their accredited representatives and to discuss with them the terms and conditions of service. The strike was called off on 4 October 1928 after the negotiations. The workers returned to work at the end of the strike with a feeling of exhilaration at their own organised strength.