Road Transport Workers Preparing for Country-wide February Strike

Road Transport Workers Preparing for Country-wide February Strike

AN all India joint meeting of national federations and state unions in road transport industry, including public and private sector bus services, goods carriers and local transports; was held at Mumbai on 16 December to make workers’ all India 48 hours general strike on 20-21 February grand success in road transport sector. The meeting was attended by K. K. Divakaran from All India Road Transport Workers Federation (CITU) and leaders of National Federation of Indian Road Transport Workers (AITUC), Bhartiya Parivahan Mazdoor Mahasangh (BMS), Indian National Transport Workers Federation (INTUC), Road Transport Workers Federation of India (HMS), Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation Employees Progressive Unions Federation (LPF), Delhi Transport Corporation Workers Unity Center (AICCTU), Uttar Pradesh Roadways Karmachari Sanyukta Parishad (Independent), Gujarat State Transport Workers Federation (NLO), BEST Workers Union, Mumbai (HMS) and Chennai Metro Transport Corporation Employees Union (LPF).

Joint Convention at New Delhi against proposed retrograde amendment of MV Act: As was decided in the joint meeting at Mumbai, a joint national convention of road transport workers is being held at New Delhi on 30 January, 2013 to oppose the proposal of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to amend Motor Vehicle Act by deleting sections 97 to 108, which provide protection of state transport undertakings.

Pitiable Service Conditions of Transport Workers: The unorganized workers in the private transport sector such as auto-rikshaws, taxis, mini bus, private bus, goods vehicles etc have no employment regulation, fixed working hours, welfare facility and social securities such as P.F, employees insurance, gratuity, compensation in the event of injury/death; no old age pension with financial assistance from union government etc; and are denied even minimum wages. The joint meeting at Mumbai decided to take up for amelioration of such pitiable service and working conditions of lakhs of workers in private road transport sector and on failure of the union government to take steps on the recommendations of V.V. Giri national labour institute.

Restriction on Trade Unions in Nagaland: In May 2012, the government of Nagaland issued an order to close down road transport unions’ offices and put a blanket ban on collection of unions’ membership subscription, grant in aid etc. in and around Dimapur town. The high court (Kohima Bench) passed an order allowing the unions to function at certain localities. Dimapur Truck Drivers Union, Truck Owners Association, Dimapur Motor Workers Union and Dimapur Land Transport and Workers Union submitted joint memorandum and have sought CITU’s help and support.