Punbus contractual workers go on indefinite strike

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 7

The Punbus Contractual Workers’ Union on Tuesday went on an indefinite strike against the Transport Department. Demanding regularisation of their services, hundreds of workers halted the movement of roadways buses.

Upset over the non-fulfillment of their demands, the contractual workers held a protest at the entry point of the bus stand and the roadways depots. Apart from regularisation, the agitators demanded cases to be withdrawn against union leaders.

Gurpreet Singh, district secretary of the union, said when employees were protesting against the policies of the state government, the Transport Department resorted to filing criminal cases against the union leaders and tried to suppress the protests instead of accepting their demands.

Another union leader said, “On December 3, after observing a chakka jam, we were assured by the government that our matter will be taken up during the Cabinet meeting. However, the transport minister failed to raise our issue.”

He said, “The minister had assured the employees of Punbus and PRTC that during the first Cabinet meet they will decide to retain contractual employees of the Transport Department, but no solution has been worked out in the meeting held on December 1.” Apart from regularisation of as many as 8,000 contractual workers, the union demanded to include more buses in the fleet of Punbus and PRTC.

Seeking regularisation of service, members of the Contractual Workers’ Union of Punjab Roadways hold a protest in Jalandhar on Tuesday.