- fleet of 438 buses
- Only 12 buses could be operated
Nagpur. Apart from the BJP’s power in the Municipal Corporation, despite the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari being constantly in the city, ignoring the strike, your bus transport system has completely collapsed. It is noteworthy that on February 18, the employees of the Aapli bus had a symbolic strike for the first time, in which it was postponed till March 1 after getting assurances. But the Transport Department took the warnings of the employees lightly. This is the reason that the entire transport system has been disturbed due to the indefinite strike that started from March 1. The wheels of your bus are jammed since 3 days.
Even on Thursday, the operation of your bus could not be done. Out of the fleet of 438 buses, only 12 buses were somehow continued. On one hand the employees are adamant about their demands, while on the other hand the Transport Department is also not finding a solution citing the rules. Due to this a tough fight has started between the two.
Expected from labor commissioner
It is noteworthy that a memorandum was submitted to the Labor Commissioner on behalf of the employees’ organization, in which a meeting of the officers, operators and employees of the Municipal Corporation was sought to be discussed to resolve the issue. The employees believed that the public was getting upset due to the stoppage of the bus service. The employees do not want to harass the passengers at all, but for a long time the demand for salary is not being fulfilled as per the rules. On one hand, contract workers are being given separate wages in Municipal Corporation, while contract workers working near bus operators are being paid in other ways. In this way, discrimination is being done among the employees itself.
…then the contract of the bus operator was canceled
Transport committee chairman Bunty Kukde said that the administration is ready to compromise with the employees, but the employees are adamant on the salary increase, due to which the public is getting upset. In view of the problems of the public and in the direction of restoring the bus service, a tough approach is now being taken. While instructions have been given to the administration to suspend 100 conductors and 50 drivers with immediate effect, the operator has been warned to cancel their contract if the operation of buses is not started soon.
will not tolerate injustice
The employees’ organization said that unnecessarily stating technical flaws in two ordinances, the Municipal Corporation has kept this issue stuck. ST workers in the state have also continued the strike demanding wage hike, which has been supported by the BJP. On one hand, the employees of the state are being supported, while the methodology is being adopted against the employees of your bus. Although these employees are to be paid by the operator, but instead of taking decisions in the interest of the employees, the work is being done to save the contractors. Such injustice will not be tolerated. All the employees will remain united till the demands are met.