PRTC, Punbus employees call off protest after govt assurance

Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punbus employees on Thursday staged a protest here that lasted for nearly an hour, leading to tense moments as demonstrators and police personnel came face to face. Some employees even lay down in front of buses to block their movement, while police officials tried to pacify them and prevent any untoward incident.

The protest ended after a meeting between government representatives and union leaders in Chandigarh concluded successfully. Union leaders announced that the government had agreed to cancel the tender issued for operating private buses. The demonstration was organised to oppose the state government’s alleged move to privatise public transport services.

Union president Resham Singh Gill alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had promised to end privatisation before coming to power but was now attempting to hand over public transport services to corporate groups. He claimed that if the government had opened the tenders, private operators would have recovered their investment within five years while continuing to own the buses, resulting in heavy financial losses to the state.

Employees also voiced anger over the continued delay in salary payments. Gill said workers were being forced to protest even during festive occasions like Diwali to demand their dues. Salaries that were earlier disbursed on the 1st of each month are now being paid on 20th-25th, severely affecting employees’ financial stability.

Following the government’s assurance, the joint strike and road blockade planned by the Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers’ Unions across Punjab and Chandigarh have been called off for now. The unions have decided to suspend their strike until October 31. However, union leaders warned that if no permanent resolution is reached by then, employees would launch surprise actions, including bus stoppages and highway blockades, without prior notice.