ESMA Invoked against Striking Mumbai Motormen


Mumbai, May 4 (IANS) The Maharashtra government Tuesday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking Mumbai Motormen and gave them time till 3 p.m. to return to work.

Around 25 train Motormen returned to work after the ESMA was invoked, a railway official said.

And in no time, around 170 striking drivers were arrested from Churchgate and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) stations.

They were accused of obstructing their colleagues from joining work.

The Western Railway and Central Railway have also filed a plea against the strike in the Bombay High Court, the official added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said he had spoken to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"We are hoping to find a solution to this problem by evening. We are open to talks with the striking train drivers," he said.

Western Railway spokesman S.S. Gupta said: "The government has invoked ESMA. The decision came after a meeting chaired by the chief minister."

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Joseph, Qatar

    Wed, May 05 2010

    Well said Tina, nobody cares a damn for these poor guys who are always behind the nerveline of metropolitan Bombay. I would like to add on to what you have said .... of all the public sector undertakings that we have in India, I find no other undertaking more competent and professional than the railways ...

    I re-iterate myself, there is none other than the railway employees who are responsible, exemplary and a dedicated lot of employees not wanting to put any impediment on the general public -case in point being my own uncle (now a retired motorma)n in the Central Railway’s suburban section enjoyed his job till the very last and never regretted his job.

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  • R.J, kallianpur/usa

    Tue, May 04 2010

    There is not a single soul eligible
    to be ANY minister or MLA from Mumbai.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Stalin Misquith, MANGALORE

    Tue, May 04 2010

    MAMTA WAS BUSY WITH HER MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND DID NOT CARE FOR THE MUMBAIKARS....YEH TO ROZ KA NATAK HAI!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • asif, mangalore

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Better to terminate the striking drivers and appoint new drivers, this is the best solution

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Reena, mumbai/kuwait

    Tue, May 04 2010

    The Central government should take action against one who initiates such strikes, and terminate them from their services and send them to jail and impose heavy fines on them. Do they realise how much lose they occur to the public and to the goverment by creating such strikes.

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  • Reena, mumbi

    Tue, May 04 2010

    The Central government should take action against one who initiates such strikes, and terminate them from their services and send them to jail and impose heavy fines on them. Do they realise how much lose they occur to the public and the govermnet by creating such strikes.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Gabriel Vaz, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Tony Pinto, Manglore - Mumbai, what are you suggesting? There are powerful ministers like Sharad Pawar & Praful Patel, among the seniors, from Maharashtra in the Union cabinet. As it is we have Bal Thackeray, his son Uddhav & nephew Raj, making life miserable for non-Mumbaikars. If some joker from Mumbai is made Railway minister God alone should save the country & Mumbai. I wonder whether even Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj will be able to save Mumbai. The problem is not Railway Ministers but the Government policies & people who blindly extend support.

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  • Ozy, Mangalore

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Without resorting to some harsh decision nobody will increase your salary. In India only big organizations having unions fight and get there salary increased. What about the Private concerns, there is no public holidays nor overtime or any other benefits. The Owners pay little amount to the labour department and absolutely no inspection, just blind eye and you see these owners have minted money and spend lavishly for their families. I am asking is there any law in this country?

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  • Tina, Mumbai

    Tue, May 04 2010

    What about the motorman who is not able to give his kid decent education? How would you feel if your salary is not raised. These guys have been voicing this issue for 6 mnths. Wht was the railway mgmt doing then? Strikes are wrong but these are not polticians. Just Middle class Indians.

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  • Tony Pinto, Manglore - Mumbai

    Tue, May 04 2010

    I do not understand why people from Bihar or Bengal are made Railway Ministers. Why none of the candidates from Mumbai not interested in Railway Ministry. I feel in the next elections the electorate from Mumbai should make it an agenda that only a person from Mumbai should be made Railway Minister

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  • Jossy Moras, Mangalore (Bangalore)

    Tue, May 04 2010

    I was just watching this news in the monning. One thing we noticed that, motormen has a huge responsibility with respect to the railways. Well, increasing the salary should be at par as per sixth pay commission. Morever, railways should provide assistant motormens so that the operation can run smoothly. Hopefully, the crisis could end as soon as possible and restore the train service.

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  • M.Mathias, Mangalore

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Increase the salary of motormen.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Montie, Mumbai

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Hi Jacintha
    Motormen & Mubaites clearly understand their responsibility. We know this step is taken as the last resort. The motormen had said to the public to kindly bear with them. There is a serious hurdle because of state and centre handling the salary issue. You or any commetors on daiji, if you do not know any topic please do not comment. Do not use the free hand given by daiji web to coment anything.

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  • Jacintha, Katapadi/Dubai

    Tue, May 04 2010

    Motormen should understand they are serving common public and they have nothing do with their pay/benifits. This type of behaviour is un acceptable.

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