Passengers hit as contractual roadways staff observe strike

Contractual staff of PUNBUS, Punjab Roadways and PRTC observed strike on the call given by the state contract workers’ union from 10 am to 12 noon on Thursday in support of their demands. No government buses plied in the state during the protest. Unaware about the strike call, many passengers were seen asking about the reason for not plying the buses.

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Achint Kaur, a senior citizen, had to go to Patiala but since buses were not plying for two hours, she had to wait till 12 pm.

“I did not know about the strike, otherwise I would have come late. But now, my son has returned to work. I will wait till 12 pm and then take the bus,” the woman said.

Meanwhile, the bus stand wore a deserted look as all buses were removed from the bus stand for two hours by contractual workers.

Talking to The Tribune, one of the union leaders of the Contractual Employees Union Swaranjit Singh said the services of contractual staff were not being regularised for long. Buses did not have required spare parts and it was difficult to drive the vehicles in such conditions. Staff had not been receiving salaries on time.

He said there were many issues and the workers were at the receiving end.

“The state government was providing freebies to women in the state but they have no money to pay us. PUNBUS and PRTC were raising bills of free bus travel of women and the government was paying them but as far as salaries of workers were concerned, the government had no money, which is uncalled for,” Swaranjit said.

General secretary of the Small-Scale District Bus Operator Welfare Association, Punjab, Jaswinder Singh Grewal, said due to free bus travel for women in government buses, private players were suffering as women avoid taking mini buses. The state government should provide some incentives to private bus operators too,” he said.