Chandigarh: The strike by contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) continued after a meeting with the state government failed to resolve the workers’ demands. Union leaders said the government had agreed to some demands, but no written assurance had been issued.
Resham Singh Gill, the union’s state president, said the transport minister had scheduled another meeting for October 29. He maintained that the strike would continue until the government formally communicated its decisions in writing.
According to the union, workers could consider ending the strike if the government issued a written letter addressing their demands. Without such a document, the protest could continue for an extended period.
What Are The Contractual Bus Workers Demanding?
The union has been pressing for three key demands:
- End the contractor system: The union wants outsourced employees to be brought under a contractual employment arrangement.
- Withdraw cases against employees: It has demanded the cancellation of cases registered against workers during previous protests.
- Regularise Punbus contractual staff: Workers want contractual employees to be made permanent after service rules are framed in Punbus.
Union leaders said their agitation would continue until the demands were addressed.
Government Holds Talks With Workers
The state government called a meeting with representatives of the contractual employees following the announcement of a transport strike. The meeting was initially expected to take place at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, but the venue was reportedly changed because of an ongoing strike there.
The union had also warned that it could intensify its agitation by gheraoing the Punjab Assembly session and staging an indefinite sit-in outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence if its demands remained unresolved.
On October 15, workers held rallies and protests at the gates of depots across Punjab as part of their campaign.
How Could The Strike Affect Passengers?
The extent of disruption to bus services and the depots affected remained unclear in the information provided. A prolonged strike could inconvenience daily commuters, office-goers and students who depend on state-run buses for their regular travel.
Passengers are advised to check with their respective bus depots before setting out, as service availability may vary by location.
The next round of talks, scheduled for October 29, is expected to be an important point in the ongoing dispute. Until then, the union has said it will continue its agitation unless the government provides written confirmation of its decisions.
