Though the Delhi High Court has barred the non-executive staff of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation from going ahead with their strike, the agitating employees continued a silent protest by wearing black bands and observing Saturday as the ‘black day’ while continuing their work. Scores of non-executive staff at various station working were seen with ‘black bands’ tied on their arms.
“All the trains are running smoothly and entire DMRC network is functioning without a hitch. There is no strike and protest from the staff members,” said a DMRC official.
“We have just deferred our protest by obeying Delhi High Court’s order. Our protest has been called unjustified and illegal because the DMRC management has filed false allegations about us in the court. However, respecting the court’s order, we have resumed our work but our fight will continue till justice is restored to us. The next hearing is scheduled for July 6 and we are preparing our points to submit it before the High Court. Our case is based on merit and we hope justice will be delivered to us,” DMRC Staff Council secretary Ravi Bharadwaj told The Pioneer.
Around 9,000 non-executive staff from various departments, including train drivers, technicians, station controllers, operators planned to boycott work completely on Saturday to seek revision in their salaries and pay grades and right to form their staff body, proper working hours, payment arrears, safety at work place, working time and assurance and formulation of fixed guidelines for sacking an employee from work, Bharadwaj said.
DMRC staff members were holding silent protests and sit in as different interchanges including Yamuna Bank, Shahdara and Huda City Center to hammer across their demands to the DMRC top brass.
“It is not that we started asking for something unusual. We have been petitioning DMRC board about our legitimate demands. Authorities are just not willing to listen. We have been forced to agitate. We had two meetings with the DMRC management on Friday and the labour Commissioner but they did not accept our demands.
The meeting was a futile exercise and none of our demands were accepted. The staff members are working with dedication and the Metro services are running smoothly but our protest will be continues. Every day is a black day for us till our demands are met,” Bharadwaj added.