Legality of strike for public utility services

Today, strikes are resorted to as a means of collective bargaining and those employed in public utility services are no exception. As per the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, no person employed in a public utility service shall go on strike in breach of contract without giving a notice to the employer. Any strike resorted to, without giving notice within 6 weeks before striking and during 14 days of giving such notice or before the expiry of the date of strike specified in such notice, will be illegal. Also, no workmen should participate in any strike during the pendency of any conciliation proceedings before a conciliation officer and 7 days after the conclusion of such proceedings.

Any strike resorted to, in contravention of these provisions, will be held illegal and the workers participating in such a strike will not be entitled to any payment for the period of strike.