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.