ATCs may get life term for strike (India)

[struggle4progress]

TIMES NEWS NETWORK< SATURDAY, JUNE 04, 2005 01:02:59 AM >

MUMBAI: Four former air traffic controllers who led the 18-day strike by ATCs at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in 1999 will face trial under the draconian SUSCA (Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation).

This is one of the first trials under the act enacted in 1994. If convicted, the four accused — Prashant Bahuguna, Manoj Sinha, Parmi Srinivas and Sudhanshu Gupta — may face life imprisonment. <snip>

Defence advocates claim the accused have been falsely implicated. SUSCA is applied only against terrorists.

Bahuguna and the other ATCs were only taking part in the strike called by the union, their counsel said. <snip>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1132140.cms

[newswolf56]

1. Air Traffic Controllers Face Life Imprisonment

A newcomer, my decision to join this site is profoundly rewarded by this sort of post, for which thank you. It has surely been said before -- but can never be said too many times -- that without liberty in the workplace, there is no liberty at all.

[LeftCoast]

2. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[TahitiNut]

4. Ubetcha. Welcome!

The malicious fiction that workers "work for" a company has been stretched beyond all morality. Workers are the company. Without the workers, a 'company' is mere debris. All manners of labor coercion, particularly under force of law, are forms of slavery.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi newswolf56!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dover]

3. Once again that ambiguous term "terrorist" is open for interpretation

and seems to include ANYONE whom you consider a threat. That means that if you are a cowboy, then Indians are terrorists. And if you are an Indian, it's the cowboys who are the terrorists.

So to the airlines and other corporations as well as the government, strikes and worker advocacy are terrorist activities.
I'm sure any active dissent or refusal to participate will also be included in that definition in the future. Time to draw a line in the sand....
Workers must stand by their advocate leaders if they hope to counter such scare tactics.

[scarletlib]

5. These men will be matyrs to the labor movement if they do end

up in prison.

Way to go India!

[sintax]

7. kick n/t

[Massacure]

8. That punishment is BS.

You cannot force someone to work. If they refuse to work I can see them being fired, but life imprisonment for not working is just plain slavery.