The issue of recruitment of drivers in Uttarakhand roadways has created a schism between its employee organizations. While one section of the employees is of the view that serving drivers working on contract in Uttarakhand roadways should be regularized before any open recruitment the other faction insists that open recruitment of domiciled candidates of Uttarakhand should be held.
The Uttaranchal Roadways Kramchari Union (URKU) even went on a strike on demand of regularization of serving workers and cancelling of recruitment drive of drivers on September 16. Bowing to the demand the state government stalled the process of recruitment. This stand of the government infuriated other association, Uttarakhand Roadways Sanyukt Parishad (URSP) which is now threatening agitation on the issue.
The Uttarakhand roadways released a recruitment advertisement for 300 posts of drivers in the month of June this year. The advertisement clearly stated that the domiciled candidates of Uttarakhand registered in the employment exchanges of state would be eligible for recruitment. A total of 1710 candidates applied for the post out of which 450 candidates were found eligible. However the process at present is stalled.
The general secretary of URSP, Ram Chandra Raturi told The Pioneer that all the states promote recruitment of local people in group III and IV posts. He said that there is a conspiracy to fill the vacant posts of drivers in roadways with candidates of Uttar Pradesh which the URSP would not allow to succeed. Raturi said that all 4200 employees affiliated with the union would be on one day mass casual leave on September 26 on this issue and 15 other demands.
The General Secretary of URKU, Ashok Chaudhary told The Pioneer that 980 drivers are working in the state roadways on contract for last many years and they have first right on permanent vacancies. He categorically said that URKU would not allow direct recruitment of drivers in the roadways.
Meanwhile the management of roadways invited representatives of URSP for talks on their 16 point demands. Raturi said that the URKU would take any decision only after getting written assurance from the management.