People's Democracy

Punjab Roadways: Unprecedented Strike

AT the call of the PUNBUS Contract Workers Union in Punjab, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), more than four thousand drivers, conductors and workshop workers belonging to all the 18 depots of Punjab Roadways went on a two day long strike on May 21, 2012. The strike got unprecedented response all over the state. Not even a single bus of the PUNBUS came out on the roads. Despite provocative steps taken by the management of the Punjab Roadways, the striking workers remained peaceful.

Among others, CITU state general secretary Raghunath Singh, its president Vijay Mishra and state vice president Chander Shekhar addressed the rallies of striking workers at various places in the state. They congratulated the workers on the successful strike and demanded from the Punjab government and the management of the Punjab Roadways must abolish the contract labour system that is illegal and must regularise all the workers who had been employed against regular posts on contract basis. Local level leaders of the CITU’s affiliated unions mobilised the workers before all the depots. The CITU leaders also demanded payment of equal wages for equal work to the contract workers --- at par with the regular workers of Punjab Roadways --- and implementation of the various labour laws. The CITU leaders also demanded stern action against the officers of the Punjab Roadways management who are causing heavy losses to the Punjab Roadways by indulging in corrupt practices.