Cluster bus staff protest enters day 5, hunger strike today
THEY ARE STRIKING OVER THEIR DEMAND FOR SALARIES AS PER THE NEW RATES OF MINIMUM WAGES THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE AAP GOVERNMENT IN MARCH THIS YEAR
faced trouble commuting as the strike by drivers and conductors of cluster buses entered its fifth day on Thursday.
Although a section of striking drivers and conductors returned to work, a section of them have decided to begin a hunger strike from Friday demanding minimum wages. A number of them decided to continue their protest leading to shortage of cluster buses, operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS).
They are striking over their demand for salaries as per the new rates of minimum wages that was implemented by the AAP government in March this year.
Audyogik Kamgar Vikas Union said its four-five of representatives will sit on an indefinite hunger strike on Friday after no decision could be taken in a meeting with the transport commissioner.
“We will begin a hunger strike from tomorrow (Friday). A delegation of conductors and drivers submitted a memorandum on its demands to the L-G’s office today (Thursday). Later, we also had a meeting with the transport commissioner, but talks could not arrive at any conclusion,” union’s president, Pramod Tomor, said.
He said out of 2,200 cluster buses operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS), only a few buses could ply on Delhi roads as only a few drivers and conductors chose to join duty.
“Hundreds of drivers and conductors will remain on strike until our demands are met,” Tomar added.
As per the new minimum wages implemented in March, an unskilled worker is to be given a minimum ₹13,350 per month. For semi-skilled and skilled persons, the minimum wages are ₹14,698 and ₹16,182 per month, respectively.
Pakistan says Jadhav was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province. In April, a military court sentenced him to death for alleged involvement in spying and subversive activities. India has contended he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar and his secret trial was a “farce”.