Threaten dharna: Roadways staff to intensify move against privatisation

On the call given by the Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS/PRTC Contract Workers’ Union, employees of the local roadways depot organised a gate rally in front of the roadways depot here on Saturday to press for the acceptance of their demands.

The employees expressed their resentment over the state government’s policies to privatise the roadways and other public sector undertakings. Baljinder Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Lovpreet Singh and Nirbhai Singh were among others who addressed on the occasion.

Condemning the state government for its anti-employee policies, employees’ leaders said the state government during its three-year rule has done nothing for employees. It even ignored their demands and avoided meeting representatives of the employees.

They said despite assuring the contractual employees many times of regularising their services, it did not fulfil its promise. They further said the state government has made all the preparations for the privatisation of the roadways, handing it over to the corporate sector.

The leaders of the roadways unions warned the state government that in case it failed to resolve their demands in the meeting of July 28, the union would have no option but to go on a dharna for an indefinite period, affecting normal working. The contractual employees also held a gate rally in front of the roadways depot in Patti.