Striking work is rarely the solution to a problem

In Mumbai, few drivers joined the strike on Monday but soon forced fellow drivers to toe their line

Commuting in the city is probably seeing its toughest phase. On the one hand the most vital mode of transport, the trains, have unsuitable timings for the common man, while on the other, BEST buses are going packed to the brim, and cabs and autos have recently become an expensive option thanks to a fare hike after petrol almost touched Rs 100/litre and diesel not far behind. And, for those who can afford app cabs like Ola and Uber, the recent strike has come as the final nail on a nightmare commuting situation.

The Ola and Uber drivers have been demanding that the base fare be hiked from the current Rs 30-Rs 35 to a flat Rs 100. Thanks to the strike over two days commuters either could not find a cab or had to pay almost three times the normal fare. While the strike that started in Delhi first, has currently been suspended till the end of the month, the drivers have threatened to go on one again from April 1 if their demands are not met. A political party too has now jumped into the fray, hoping for mileage and eventual payoff in the drama.

It is unfortunate that striking work has become the only way for employees in this country to draw employers' attention to their troubles. The city has seen enough of strikes to know very little really happens at the end of the day. In the case of Ola and Uber drivers, they have struck work twice before, but both times their demands were outrightly rejected and the base fares even reduced by a few rupees.

While holding the common man to ransom is clearly not the solution, employers need to understand that choosing to lose income cannot be a choice easy to make for those striking work, especially in such times. It is impossible to believe that a middle ground cannot be found. Nevertheless, till such time that better sense prevails, the common man will continue to be caught in the crossfire.