It is a tradition that Resident Doctors go on strike every few years. They used to strike work every fourth year like clockwork, when the issue used to be raise in stipend. Now there are many issues and the strikes occur more often. Usually the strikes begin on Tuesday. My theory is that it takes them that long to get out of Monday morning blues. Or perhaps they believe the administrators should not be in Monday morning blues when they strike work, so that their demands will be met. Another good time to begin a strike is when the Faculty proceed on vacation. All leave including vacation gets cancelled when the strike begins. Faculty have to do their own work plus the striking doctors' work. The strikers probably believe that pressurizing the Faculty will result in Faculty pressurizing the administrators to settle matters to the satisfaction of the Resident doctors. Poor dears do not realize that no one listens to the faculty on any issue. Today they went on a token strike. It is a Thursday, not Tuesday. But it is the second day of vacation for the Faculty. So they proved my theory. What follows is graphic representation of what used to happen when I was a Resident doctor and later an Assistant Professor. I believe little has changed since.
Day -1
Collection of union membership dues prior to the strike. These days stipends get credited to bank accounts. So the dues are probably collected one time when new Residents join.
Day 0: Eve of Strike
The main activity is packing bags for going home on a fully paid long holiday.
Day 1 of Strike: Warning potential strike-breakers
I am warning you, you @#$$%&%^. If you break the strike, we will lock you up in your room when you go to sleep.
Day 2 of the strike: The stage of negotiations with the health minister.
Day 5 of the strike
It is Saturday today. Let us enjoy this Sunday and call the strike off on Monday.
Every day of the strike
Ring up the mortuary in the morning to find out if the strike is having the desired impact on the patients' health.
Day 6 of the strike
A humble request to chemists for a generous donation to the strike ... or else...
Day 6 of the strike
An appeal to the professors to donate generously for the strike, so that their ordeal ends quickly too.
Day 8 of the strike
An outpatient clinic is set up outside the hospital for the convenience of the poor patients.
Day 12 of the strike
March at 12 noon in candlelight. The purpose is to be noticed by people, not to show them light.
Day 14 of the strike: Opinions of professors on the strike
"Why do I say the strike is ethically, morally and legally justified? Because by daughter is one of the striking doctors."
Day 28 of the strike
Finding the professor doing ward-work and getting him to check and sign one's dissertation for MD examination.
Day 31 of the strike
Relay hunger strike: Location? Near the canteen, where the hunger striking doctors can rush into the canteen as soon as their 2 hour turns get over.
Day 51 of the strike
Strike breakers: "we can take those ad hoc lecturers' posts. That will not amount to breaking the strike, because we will not be resident doctors, we will be full-timers.
Day 56 of the strike
Stage of negotiations for at least granting of term and pay for the period of absence from duty during the strike.
Day 57 of the strike
Face of Victory!: "We are very proud of our struggle for justice. And we even managed to get a promise that they will not mention the strike on our post-holding certificates.
Day 1 after the strike
"God knows what the objectives of the strike were. But it gave me time to get engaged and finish my dissertation too."
Day -1
Collection of union membership dues prior to the strike. These days stipends get credited to bank accounts. So the dues are probably collected one time when new Residents join.
Day 0: Eve of Strike
The main activity is packing bags for going home on a fully paid long holiday.
Day 1 of Strike: Warning potential strike-breakers
I am warning you, you @#$$%&%^. If you break the strike, we will lock you up in your room when you go to sleep.
Day 2 of the strike: The stage of negotiations with the health minister.
Day 6 of the strike
Day 6 of the strike
Day 8 of the strike
Day 12 of the strike
March at 12 noon in candlelight. The purpose is to be noticed by people, not to show them light.
Day 14 of the strike: Opinions of professors on the strike
"Why do I say the strike is ethically, morally and legally justified? Because by daughter is one of the striking doctors."
Day 28 of the strike
Finding the professor doing ward-work and getting him to check and sign one's dissertation for MD examination.
Day 31 of the strike
Relay hunger strike: Location? Near the canteen, where the hunger striking doctors can rush into the canteen as soon as their 2 hour turns get over.
Day 51 of the strike
Strike breakers: "we can take those ad hoc lecturers' posts. That will not amount to breaking the strike, because we will not be resident doctors, we will be full-timers.
Day 56 of the strike
Stage of negotiations for at least granting of term and pay for the period of absence from duty during the strike.
Day 57 of the strike
Face of Victory!: "We are very proud of our struggle for justice. And we even managed to get a promise that they will not mention the strike on our post-holding certificates.
Day 1 after the strike
"God knows what the objectives of the strike were. But it gave me time to get engaged and finish my dissertation too."
