Protests against the new transport policy

The workers’ association and various unions of the Haryana Roadways organised vigorous protests and pickets (‘dhrana’) in the depots located at various depots in the state on 11th February 2016 against the new transport policy of the state government. Subsequently they presented a memorandum to the General Manager of Haryana Roadways and the state Chief Minister.

On this occasion the leaders of the unions explained how the new transport policy was against the interest of the workers. The new policy would benefit neither the workers nor the public at large. They hence demanded that the new policy be withdrawn forthwith. They pointed out that for a long time, there had been a shortage of buses in the state. This is adversely affecting people all over the state. They demanded that 10,000 new buses must be procured for induction into the Roadways. There are many workers who have been working as temporary workers for several years and have not been made permanent. Hence they should be inducted as permanent workers in new recruitments in the first place. Neither are they getting wages equal to their compatriots in Punjab, nor are the categories being upgraded. They claimed that the government is implementing the contract system which is anti-worker. This must be ceased immediately and privatisation must be stopped at once.