Chandigarh: In a major relief for thousands of daily commuters across the state, the Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and PRTC Contract Workers Union has officially announced the postponement of its proposed three-day statewide bus strike. The complete wheel-jam strike, which was scheduled to take place from June 24 to June 26, 2026, has been put on hold following positive initial interventions from the state government and transport authorities.
The union administration released a formal statement detailing that a crucial administrative breakthrough prompted the decision to defer the agitation. According to union representatives, a key file concerning the cancellation of legal cases and police complaints registered against transport workers during previous union agitations has been processed by the transport department and forwarded directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs for final clearance. Furthermore, the state leadership confirmed that a high-level panel meeting has been formally scheduled for June 24, 2026, with the state Finance and Transport Ministers to thoroughly deliberate upon the charter of demands submitted by the union.
The public transport union had previously mobilized across all 27 transport depots in the state to demand the unconditional regularisation of contractual staff, equal pay for equal work, and an immediate halt to the expanding outsourcing under the kilometer scheme, which they allege promotes creeping privatization. The agitation had already been deferred by two days earlier in the week to ensure unhindered transit facilities for students appearing in national competitive examinations.
While the sudden postponement averts immediate travel chaos and guarantees regular operations of state-run buses across major routes, the union has cautioned that the suspension of the strike is temporary. Transport union leaders stated that their future strategy and the potential resumption of a complete shutdown will depend entirely on the outcome of the scheduled panel negotiations with government representatives.
