Assam Oil Company and the Labour Strike in Digboi, 1939

Abstract

In 1939, a labour strike shook up the management of the Assam Oil Company in the eastern most corner of Assam. It was one of the well organised labour movements of Assam. After the election of 1937, the workers expected that the provincial government would support the long standing demands of workers concerning their choice of leaders, better wage and remuneration, increase participation in the management and security against arbitrary dismissals. However, in the wake of the Second World War and the failure of the provincial Congress government the strike failed, yet it had a profound influence on the labourers working on surrounding tea gardens of Assam.