Commuters of Aapli bus were at the receving end on Wednesday as nearly 800 contractual workers of five city bus operator companies resorted to strike miffed at non-implementation of revised wage accord as notified by Maharashtra Government in October 2024 GR. By the evening, things normalised post-crediting of revised wages in the account of drivers and conductors, sans maintainance staffers and controllers. Contd from page 1 As about 150 workers are left out of the revised pay, it likely that the strike may continue on Thursday.

 

The strike was an outcome of inability of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to enforce the revised wage accord that led to city buses remaining stationed at respective depots. For the regular commuters, it was shock as there was no advance intimation about non-plying of the city buses. With summer at its peak, the commuters were left high and dry due to non-availability of the city buses, most of which are now air-conditioned. Taking advantage of the situation, the auto-rickshaw drivers jacked-up the fares hitting the common man harder. In fact, trouble has been mounting for last two months, when the three unions, one aligned to BMS, other to Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and other one to CITU had given notices to NMC administration about their intention to strike work. The problem is that though an accord on wage revision was notified by State Government on October last, NMC administration miserably failed to implement the same in its letter and spirit.

 

The five operator companies continue to stall the implementation of wages that hiked the minimum wages payable to drivers and conducts working with five operator companies. Though officials from Transport Department of NMC promised to compensate the operator companies for any additional outgo owing to additional financial burden, the employees did not get revised wages. Rakesh Bhosekar, President, Transport and General Kamgar Union, Nagpur city unit, and affiliated to Vanchit Bahujan Agahadi, speaking to The Hitavada, said that they had served strike notice for February 15, 2025, on February 1 itself. Thereafter, another notice was issued to the administrator on March 12 stating that if the revised wages as agreed upon were not issued then the workers would resort to strike work on March 18. Following the notice, Additional Labour Commissioner called a meeting of NMC officials, representatives of five operators companies and also the three workers unions. Despite 10 to 12 round of talks, the operator companies were not agreeing to revise the salaries as per October 2024 GR of Urban Development Department (UDD).

 

Left with no choice the leaders of three workers union on Tuesday night itself held a meeting and informed NMC administration that they would strike work on Wednesday. Since morning no bus moved out of depots leaving thousands of commuters in the lurch. The introduction of e-buses has helped NMC to regain customers to pre-Covid-19 levels and hence non-availability of public transport has put people to great trouble. Also the last mile and first mile connectivity with Nagpur Metro also suffered due to workers strike on Wednesday. Bhosekar said, the operators companies are solely responsible for today's mess and inspite of NMC officials promising to reimburse any additional expenditure, they did not relent till last moment and did not any steps to avert the strike. 

 

 

The mess that was witnessed on Wednesday in city again underscored the vulnerability of NMC administration to enforce its writ and also showcases the brazenness of the operator companies to defy the Government's order. With budget session of State Legislature on in Mumbai, the NMC administration was in fix over the flash strike and was searching for answers in case the issue comes up for discussion. Hectic parleys went on throughout the day to convince the operator companies to adhere to State Government GR that notified hike in wages for contractual staff. Finally at end of the day the statement ended as the five operator companies credited the salaries as per notified GR. Rakesh Bhosekar said the amount was received by the employees and the companies did deduct amount of many of them for being absent and on other grounds. NMC officials also said the issue is now settled as city bus service would resume operations from Thursday morning. During the month of October 2024, the workers of Aapli Bus resorted to one of the long strike that crippled city bus operations. The city buses remain off road for more than week as NMC scrambled to find the answers. The workers were seeking hike in wages which they claimed has remained static since last 15-years. Finally, UDD issued a notification on October 14, 2024, notifying increase in wages for workers of buses operated by civic body. Since then the workers were seeking the hike but for last five months nor the NMC nor the five operator companies took any steps to implement the GR resulting in flash strike on Wednesday. 

 

 

City bus operations, on Thursday, may also get hit as workers engaged in maintenance and those employed as Controllers are unhappy at being denied wage rise. VBA-backed Union office-bearers said that the five operators companies have not yet released enhanced payment to 150 odd workers engaged in maintenance of buses. Along with them about 50 Controllers also are in agitated mood as they to have not been given payment at par with conductors and drivers. On Wednesday, the five companies released enhanced salaries to 500 to 600 conductors and drivers. As to technical staff and Controllers, the companies are seeking extra five to six days to meet the obligation. However, the left out staff are not in a mood to budge.

 

They said, they would not attend the work and continue to be on strike. This has put a question mark on normalisation of city bus operations on Thursday also. Rakesh Bhosekar of VBA said, they are supporting the stance of technical and Controller staff. The companies in past also stalled making enhanced payment and sought five to six days and it took nearly five months to get things materialise. Nearly 300 to 350 buses (diesel, CNG and e-buses) operate daily on various routes across city.