Central TUs Condemn 'Atrocities' on Striking Haryana Road Transport Workers
Suspension orders slapped on nearly 500 employees, about 100 newly recruited workers issued termination notice, say unions, who are opposing privatisation.
Ten central trade unions have condemned the BJP-led Haryana government for "victimising and repressing" state road transport workers who are on strike against attempts to hand over the entire corporation to the private sector.
The workers, who went on strike on October 16-17, have now extended the strike in protest against the "repressive" steps unleashed by the Government.
"It is a matter of shock and anguish that instead of opening dialogue with the striking unions, the Government has resorted to vindictive and repressive action path. Union offices of AIRTWF, AITUC, INTUC in some places like Faridabad depot have been sealed," said a joint statement issued by central trade unions on Thursday. The signatories include the Indian National Trade Union Congress, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, SEWA, AICCTU, TUCC among others.
The unions said since the past three years, the BJP-led Haryana Government has been "trying to wind up Haryana Roadways and hand over the entire passenger transport operation to private operators." They said such a move in 2017 was stalled by trade unions through a militant strike action.
"Now, the Government has again initiated steps to engage 720 private buses on lease to operate in state transport routes on ‘kilometer’ basis. It is obvious that such action of the Government is motivated to ultimately totally privatise the most efficiently rune public transport system of Haryana," the central trade unions said.
According to reports, hundreds of workers have been arrested under the Essential Services Maintenance Act and also other various non-bailable false charges. "Suspension order has been slapped on nearly 500 employees. About 100 newly recruited employees have been issued termination notice. The government has started the process of new recruitment as well", the unions said, demanding that the government must release all arrested employees and withdraw all cases against them. Further orders of termination and suspension must also be withdrawn.
The central unions also called for immediate bipartite negotiations with the Joint Action Forum of trade unions to discuss and decide steps to ensure more efficiency of the public road transport operation in the state.
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