In a major reprieve for the commuters traveling by the buses of Uttarakhand roadways, the Uttarakhand Roadways Karmachari Union (URKU); the union of contractual workers of the roadways has taken back its proposed call of indefinite strike. The union had threatened to go on an indefinite strike from midnight of Wednesday.
Bowing to the demands of the employees the management of Uttarakhand roadways has decided to increase the per kilometre payment to the contractual drivers and conductors by 15 percent. Similarly the remuneration of the contractual workers of Workshop has been increased by Rs 2000 per month.
On Wednesday, hectic parleys were held between the agitating union and the Uttarakhand roadways to persuade the employees to take back the strike.
The transport minister Yashpal Arya took initiative and invited the union leaders for talks. later he instructed the Managing Director (MD) of the Roadways to take necessary measures. The administration late prepared draft of the increased remuneration for the contractual workers which were accepted by the URKU.
“We are happy with the decision. Now all the contractual workers would get an increment of about Rs 2000 per month. We thank the Transport minister Yashpal Arya for the decision,’’ said the general Secretary of the union Ashok Chaudhary.
The URKU was demanding an increase per kilometer rate which the roadway pays to the contractual drivers and conductors. At present the drivers are paid Rs 2.25 per km in mountainous areas and Rs 1.85 in plain areas of the state. The union was asking for an increase of 50 paisa in these rates. The URKU enjoys considerable support among the drivers and conductors working on contract. The union claimed that more than 2500 drivers and conductors would go on a strike from midnight of Wednesday, if their demands are not accepted.
Meanwhile Uttarakhand Roadways Sanyukt Parishad (URSP) another powerful union of the state carrier is also up in arms against the state government. The members of the union are staging Dharnas in different depots. The URSP is demanding all outsource employees of the roadways should be given a minimum monthly salary of Rs 18000. It is also demanding that the state government should immediately pay Rs 60 Crore is owes to the roadways.
The General Secretary of the URSP, Ramchandra Raturi said that the retirement benefit of more than 300 employees are pending from last four years and if the State Government makes the pending payment then these employees can be paid their dues.