Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, PRTC go on strike

Ravneet Singh

Patiala, September 20

Contractual employees of the Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation went on a strike Wednesday in support of various demands, including a hike in pay.

The contractual workers started their protest at mid-night. Earlier, they had held a similar two-hour protest at the bus stands a week ago on September 14.

According to the workers, the state government has already accepted a number of their demands, but is yet to implement them.

There are over 7,500 contractual workers of the PRTC and PUNBUS.

Harkesh Vicky of the union said the contractual workers have stopped plying of all buses at 27 bus depots in the state.

“Only the regular staff members are rendering their services. We will continue our protest until our demands are not implemented.”

Harjinder Singh, president of PRTC and PUNBUS contract workers’ union, Patiala said the state government had assured to increase our demands as per decisions taken in meetings.

“But the increments accepted then have not been accorded. Till now, the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government has failed to regularise our workers in the last one and half years.”

The leaders said a meeting with the government officials is going on in Chandigarh, adding that the protest would continue indefinitely in case no consensus is reached.