Strike by roadways unions enters Day 8

JAIPUR: The govt breached to implement agreement and wants to delay it so that as model code of conduct comes into effect, the government, under the shield of it, will not have to implement the agreement. ML YADAV , AITUC state president

The strike of roadways and city buses from September 17 will enter its eighth day on Monday.

The joint forum of Rajasthan Roadways labour union went on strike alleging that the government has not been fulfilling the demands despite having agreed to them in writing. Earlier, when the roadways buses had gone on a two-day strike from July 25 to 27, transport minister Yoonus Khan on July 27 chaired a meeting and agreed in writing to pay the outstanding subsidy of ~150 crore by August 2018, replace 1000 condemned buses with new buses, give benefits of seventh pay commission to the roadways employees and to recruit people on the 8,000 vacant posts.

The joint forum of roadways unions include (All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), RSRTC Retired Employees Association, Bharatiya Janata Majdoor Sangh (BJMS) and Rajasthan Roadways Retired Employees Welfare Samiti.

All India Trade Union Congress state president ML Yadav said, “The government has breached to implement the agreement and wants to delay the implementation so that as model code of conduct comes into effect next month, the government, under the shield of it, will not have to implement the agreement.”

The roadways management called a meeting with the agitating employees but talks failed.

Meanwhile, the government city buses operated under Jaipur City Transport Service Limited (JCTSL) are also on strike with roadways employees over their 24-demands.

The city has more than 270 low-floor buses in which around three lakh passengers commute daily and JCTSL daily earns Rs 24 lakh. City buses being off the roads has put the lives of commuters out of gear.

The main demands of JCTSL Employees Union include benefits of seventh pay commission, medical benefits to employees among others.