Lakhs of commuters and passengers were stranded through the state as the Maharashtra State Transport Workers’ Congress affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) began their strike on Thursday as no response was received from the government to the union’s demands.
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) however said that the striking union was not recognised. Meanwhile, many students and commuters unaware of the strike went to the bus stops and returned home.
Speaking to The Asian Age on Thursday, MSRTC vice chairman and managing director Ranjit Singh Deol said, “As per the court order the ST Kamgar Sanghatna is the recognised union and we already have an agreement with them till March. The striking union is a registered union, but not recognized. However, in the interest of all, we are holding talks with them. We are open to discussions.”
Mukesh Tigote, working president of the Maharashtra State Transport Workers’ Congress said on Thursday that, the strike was nearly 100 per cent in all the 249 depots in Maharashtra. “About 40,000 conductors and drivers along with mechanics, technicians and staff bringing the figure to 70,000 have begun their strike,” he said.
Jaiprakash Chhajed state president of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) said that they had already given a notice a week ago to the government and they had begun their strike as their demands, which includes a 25 per cent hike in salary were not met before December 17.
MSRTC PRO Abhijeet Bhosale said that they have 16,500 vehicles plying daily and transporting over 60,00,000 passengers daily. The Mumbai area has not been affected, he said. In Nashik, the strike affected around 50 per cent of the buses. Divisional Controller Yamini Joshi said that the strike had affected services to some extent but they were running services with staff from other unions working extra hours.
