Govt given 15 days to address grievances
KTC workers, including KTC EV drivers protesting at Margao.
MARGAO
The KTC Drivers and Allied Employees Association has served an ultimatum on the government to call a meeting to address the issue of the KTC EV bus drivers and staff, including payment, failing which the Association has threatened to strike work.
Association president Chandrakant Chodankar said the strike decision will be taken on September 30, warning that all buses, including the KTC EV and normal buses, besides the Mhaji buses will not ply on the roads unless the KTC EV drivers are provided with decent pay and other facilities.
Addressing the media at the Margao KTC bus depot on Thursday, Trade Union leader Christopher Fonseca and KTC Drivers and Allied Employees Association president Chandrakant Chodankar have warned that the KTC employees will have no option than to go on a strike after the 15-day period.
“We had a meeting today in order to awaken the government and the KTC. We have decided to send a reminder to the government to call for an urgent meeting. If no meeting is held within 15 days, the Union will decide to go on a strike and come on the streets,” Fonseca warned.
He added: “We want to tell the government that if the demand is not addressed, we may have to decide to stop all the EV buses and give a strike notice. Tomorrow we should not be questioned as to why we have stopped work and come on the roads. Once the EV drivers come on the roads, the KTC drivers and employee will come on the road in their support.”
Highlighting the pitiable conditions the EV drivers are made to work by the contractor from Hyderabad engaged by the government to run the KTC EV buses, Fonseca said while each EV bus costs Rs 2 crore, the drivers are paid Rs 600 per day. “The EV bus drivers are skilled workers, but they receive a payment of Rs 600 per day. On the other hand, KTC drivers get a salary of Rs 40,000 a month. The EV drivers, working on contract, have their rights. Law mandates same and similar work and hence should be paid same and similar pay. The contract labour rules say equal pay for equal work,” he added.
He demanded that the KTC EV bus drivers are paid monthly salary of Rs 40,000, besides three per cent increment, inflation allowance, HRA, etc. “We had put this demand before the KTC management four months ago. Neither the KTC management nor the contractor has called on us. Neither Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho nor KTC Chairman Ulhas Tuenkar called us to show they are interested in the workers,” Fonseca said.
