A day after their talks with Haryana Government failed to yield any positive result, Haryana Roadways employees on Thursday decided to further extend their ongoing strike till October 29 even as it entered its tenth day.
The roadways employees are on strike since October 16 against the State Government's decision to hire 700 buses from private owners.
“As the government rejected our demand to withdraw its decision of hiring 700 private buses, the only option left with us is to extend strike till October 29,” said Balwan Singh, member of the coordination committee of the Haryana Roadways Employees Union.
The employees from several other departments would also proceed on mass casual leave from Friday to express solidarity with the roadways employees and to protest the "autocratic behaviour" of the government.
Subhash Lamba, general secretary, Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, said that employees of various departments will proceed on mass casual leave against the government’s insensitivity.
Roadways union leaders and a high-level government delegation led by Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar had on Wednesday met to end the deadlock over the issues but could not reach any conclusion.
While the State Government had offered to reconsider its decision on 190 private buses as the tenders for the same were yet to be finalised, but remained firm on plying of 510 private buses.
The government claimed that the scheme cannot be reworked as the cabinet had already decided on this matter and signed an agreement to this effect.
Commenting on the ongoing strike by the employees of Haryana Roadways, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal while talking to the mediapersons said that the work of employees unions should be to raise issues and concern pertaining to the welfare of employees. The policy decision are not under their purview and should be left to the government, he added.
At present, the Haryana Roadways has a fleet of 4300 buses. The 600 buses have been added to the fleet during last four years. Apart from this, 367 new buses are still to be added, the Chief Minister said.
Manohar Lal denied of being issued any route permit to the private buses. Only the buses are to be hired from the private bus owners on per kilometer basis. The driver in these buses would be provided by the bus owner whereas conductor would be of Haryana Roadways, he said.
He further clarified that Haryana Roadways would have full control over these buses as the bus route as well as timing would be fixed by the roadways.
The roadways employees have alleged that the BJP led State Government is hell bent on privatizing road transport sector.
The employees' union have remained adamant on their demand that the tenders issued until now be cancelled under the kilometre scheme.
Under the kilometre scheme, private operators and bus owners will pay salary to drivers, bear diesel and maintenance cost, while conductors would be appointed by the government and the revenue generated from the tickets would be deposited in the state exchequer, government officials had earlier said.