New Delhi: The Delhi Transport Corporation workers call to go on a strike on the 29th of October, add more worries to commuters of Delhi. the strike is called against the decision taken by the Management to reduce the minimum wages paid to the contract workers in DTC.
Various trade unions and workers organisations have extended their support to this Strike. Around 50% of the total workforce is appointed on a contract basis by the DTC and remain grossly unpaid and overworked said AICCTU Secretary Abhishek, in their press release asking for more support to this strike.
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The DTC management has been giving the excuse that the reduction in minimum wages is a result of the decision of the Delhi High Court, but the HC had only stayed the decision to increase the minimum wages, it has not said that the wages being paid need to be reduced. The legal minimum wage is the ‘minimum’ that needs to be paid to the worker, there is no bar on the maximum that can be paid.
DTC workers have been continuously raising their voice against such decision and a group of workers under the DTC Workers Unity Centre met with the Delhi Transport Minister and Delhi Aam Admi Party convenor Gopal Rai, many times over the issue.
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On September 25th and 28th, a voting was conducted over the issue of equal pay for work, taking back the circular on the reduction of salary, and say no to private buses, across all the DTC depots in the national capital. Almost 98.2% of workers voted in the favour of holding the strike.
The decision of the workers of the DTC also comes in the background of a major discussion that is happening around pollution including vehicular pollution and affordable and sustainable public transport.
“The strike called by the DTC workers on the 29th of October is not just a strike against the decision DTC management it is also a struggle to save the DTC,” said Abhishek.
DTC is important to keep public transport affordable and robust. This can be ensured if the workers of DTC have the security of employment and better work and pay conditions.
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The workers of DTC are demanding that the DTC immediately expand its fleet of buses, the fulfillment of this demand will go a long way in addressing the problems of public transport in the city.
