Roadways employees to go on 2-day strike from today

FLOUTING ESMA Staffers protesting Haryana govt’s permit to 700 private buses; govt says it would benefit employees

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana roadways employees union has announced to go on a two-day strike from Tuesday, despite Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), which prohibits strike by the employees, being in force.

There are about 19,000 employees in Haryana roadways, which has about 4,100 buses, in which over 12 lakh passengers travel daily. The employees union announced that no buses, including 39 Volvo buses, would ply for the next two days.

The roadways employees are protesting against the government’s decision to rope in about 700 buses from private operators, which they allege is an attempt to favour some chosen few and a step towards privatisation in the department.

They allege that the government would benefit the private operators by paying them more per kilometre than what the roadways department spent.

“Instead, the government should purchase new buses and fill all vacancies in the department which would bring huge profits to the department besides generating employment for many,” employees leader Sarbat Punia said.

Additional chief secretary (ACS, transport department) Dhanpat Singh, however, said the government would effectively implement Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1974, as the strike would affect public safety and hit the supply of essential services to the public. Refuting allegations of the

union leaders, Dhanpat said it was neither favouritism nor any bid to privatise the services.

“The private operators would run new buses on routes given by the department and have their own drivers while the conductors would be of Haryana roadways. While the department spent about ₹49 per kilometre, the permits have now been given for ₹31 to ₹39 per kilometre according to different routes, hence the profit. They would run at least 300 km a day and give the revenue to the department,” he said.

Earlier, the roadways employees had observed strike on September 5, despite ESMA for which the department had taken action against 288 employees, including 164 who were suspended and action under ESMA taken against them.

Meanwhile, the union of various government departments,

ENSURE ESMA IMPLEMENTATION: HC

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday directed the Haryana government to ensure strict implementation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) during a two-day strike called by the state’s Roadways Employees Union. Justice Rajan Gupta has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by some private transporters against the strike call given by the protesters.