Buses to stay off roads on Apr 30 - owners not supporting strike


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 29: Private bus drivers and conductors will be on strike on April 30. Therefore, buses will not ply on Thursday, in protest against ammendments brought to Road Safety Act that are anti-labour and anti-people, said Motor Transport and Engineering Workers Union and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Employees Association, in a joint statement.

The statement said that the bus employees are opposing the ammendments which stipulate jail term and sterner punishments for drivers and conductors even in case of minor accidents and other incidents. The striking employees will also be protesting against the attitude of private owners in coastal districts in putting off payment of daily wages to conductors and drivers at the rate already agreed upon. The unions have extended full support to the national level strike call given by different labour unions.

The statement was issued by general secretary of the union, Vasant Achary, and CITU bus employees association president, Ashok, and secretary, as well as Vishwanath Kulal. CITU district general secretary, Balakrishna Shetty, said that KSRTC employees and auto rickshaw union members will be supporting the strike call. The unions claimed that the ammendments brought to the act will drive to streets lacs of working people by opening up transport sector of the country for big corporate entities, and that huge amount that will flow in as revenue in the form of taxes and tolls including share of the state will henceforth directly go the central government.

In the meanwhile, Canara Bus Owners Association president, Rajavarma Ballal, and Udupi City Bus Owners Association, Suresh Nayak, said that bus owners will not be supporting this strike. They said that enhancement in the quantum of punishment as spelt out in the ammendment bill is in in the interests of the general public, and seeks more care on the part of drivers. As per the new act, any vehicle can be registered in any of the states, and vehicles can be taken between districts and across states without any hitch. Taxes will be pooled at the centre and distributed to states. They said that the ammendment opens up more choices to the passengers, and are in public interest, and therefore, they support the ammendments.

  

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Comment on this article

  • John DSouza, Mangaluru

    Thu, Apr 30 2015

    In spite of buses off roads, the traffic on roads is unbelievable (due to increased number of small vehicles and two wheelers) which do not even satisfy 10% of the total transport demand.
    The surface transport sector is ripe for a rapid revolution.
    The huge dead weight of commuters and goods on wheels can be used as a powerful pushing force and considerable volume of fuel can be saved and certain volume of free and clean energy can be generated.
    Being 60% of our population is below 35 years of age, the opportunity is to productively employ the human resources by starting various develop projects.
    Instead of burning the economy by huge volume of oil imports, the saved funds can be used for job creation.
    Since the gravity power is a powerful force, free, abundant and 24x7, a simple concept change in automobiles can make a world of difference with incredible solutions and amazing benefits.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Buses to stay off roads on Apr 30 - owners not supporting strike



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