Talks fail, HRTC conductors, drivers to strike work today

The HRTC services are likely to be disrupted over the next few days due to the proposed strike of the Drivers and Conductors Union. A meeting between HRTC Vice-Chairman Ajay Verma and the union representatives failed today and the latter would proceed on their proposed strike from tomorrow. “We will give a notice to the HRTC management tomorrow. We can announce a 24-hour strike or an indefinite strike depending on what we all decide,” said Maan Singh Thakur, president of the Drivers and Conductors Union.

The union threatened to stop HRTC services over the pending overtime dues of the drivers and the conductors. “Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had announced Rs 59 crore a few months ago to clear our pending dues. The assurance has not been fulfilled,” said Maan Singh. “In the meeting today, the HRTC Vice-Chairman said the government had released Rs 5 crore but we would not accept anything less than the amount announced by the Chief Minister. Arrears to the tune of over Rs 100 crore are pending with the government,” he added.

Maan Singh said that the HRTC Vice-Chairman agreed to look into the minor demands of the union but expressed his inability to pay the promised Rs 59 crore.