Life as I have Seen It

Author(s): Urmila S Dholakia
Publisher: Urmila S Dholakia

Page 40

=Life - As I've seen it = work in the kitchen. I met the head cook and asked him what the essential issue was. He told me that cost of living had gone up but their salaries had not increased. If you increase our wages, we will get back to work. No pay raise, no work! I asked if they had ever requested this before using proper channels and he responded that they had not. | reminded them that when we formed the new committee, raises and facilities were improved. So, why out of the blue would they be demanding more pay now?
It was really hard for me to digest and - comprehend why they were doing what they were
doing. I told them that the only way to solve this would be to go through the proper channels and negotiations.
This did - not solve the problem of 300 hungry girls waiting for food. I knew I would have to solve this crisis with military strategy. i rang the emergency bell and called all the girls to a meeting in the main hall. I told the girls that we have a crisis. The kitchen staff is twisting our arms and demanding more pay. They think that we will not be able to function without them. We have a choice. We can fight or we can submit. Right away, the main hall was filled with righteous shouts of "We fight! We fight!" (Nahi Jukenge, Nahi Jukenkge). I was proud and excited to see the energy of these ladies. I shouted over the din, "Let's go! I am with you!"