Expressing dissatisfaction on the steps taken by the State Government on their demands, Haryana Roadways Employees on Monday threatened to intensify their agitation across the State and called a joint meeting of all seven roadways employees unions under the banner of ‘Taalmel Committee’ at Rohtak on December 25 for further course of action.
Sarban Singh Jangrha, a union leader at Panchkula Bus depot said State Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed had promised formation of a joint committee of three Ministers and seven union leaders to discuss demands of roadways employees but nothing has been done so far.
“Almost one month is to pass; neither did the State Government form any committee nor initiate discussions on our demands. How will we waitIJ”, asked Jangrha.
Haryana Roadways Employees have 15 demands which includes cancellation of the Government’s move to give permits to 3,519 private buses to ply under the new transport policy and regularisation of the employees on contract.
Sources said the State Government is ready to accept all 14 demands except the one on cancellation of new transport policy for permits to 3,519 private buses. However, the Haryana Roadways union leaders do not want to have any discussion without the cancellation of the new transport policy. Hence the deadlock between union leaders and State transport department continues.
Haryana Roadways employees agitation had hit transport services across the state on November 13 and 14. This caused inconvenience to large number of office-goers, students and other people. All the buses, including the luxury Volvo service, were off the roads at most places, including Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Hisar, Sirsa and other places in the State during the strike.
The union leaders have called a joint meeting of all unions at Rohtak on December 25 to mount pressure on the State Government for accepting their demands.
“We will announce our further course of action after that meeting. It could be intensification of agitation or resumption of strike”, said Janghra. Officials of the Transport department refused to comment on the proposed action plan of the Roadways Unions.