New Delhi: The one-day strike call given by DTC Workers Unity Centre and supported by DTC Workers Union (AITUC) and DTC Employees Congress (INTUC) brought to a standstill the regular functioning of Delhi Transport Corporation. Thousands of contract workers and permanent workers observed the strike today, which affected the entire city.
In an effort to quell the anger of workers, the government in a last-minute bid brought out a circular reinstating the wages which were reduced earlier by the DTC management. This indeed is a big victory for DTC workers who were affected badly by the reduction of wages.
DTC workers’ strike on while govt agrees to restore old wages
However agitating protestors maintain that the government should give up its arrogance as demonstrated by the imposition of ESMA and start negotiating with unions immediately for other demands like ‘same pay for same work’, ‘regularization of contractual workers’, ‘new buses in DTC fleet’ etc.
Rajesh, General Secretary, DTC Workers Unity Centre said, “It is the government’s and the management’s prerogative to impose/implement ESMA and choose to curb whatever democratic space that workers have.
Unprecedented Support by Central Trade Unions to DTC Workers Strike
All Central Trade Unions other than Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) had supported the call for the strike. Leaders from various unions came out in full solidarity with the striking workers during the entire day. While picketing in different depots of DTC several union leaders were detained/arrested early in the morning.
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Workers Make it Clear: Fight for Rights Would Continue despite ESMA and All Kinds of Repressive Measures
Ajay Dagar who is a driver at DTC and have been working over 13 years says,“ The condition of the workers in DTC remains deplorable, DTC has no new buses to carry on it’s normal functioning, how will we get equal wages when we don’t get a chance to work regularly.”
On the other hand Aam Admi Party North-East Delhi Lok Sabha in-charge Dilip Pandey agrees to the demand of protestors and said, “I totally support their demands and AAP government under the esteemed leadership of Arvind Kejriwal is committed to regularise their work and waiting for the last hearing over the matter pending before the Delhi High Court.”
Dilip Pandey speaking with Newsd also made it clear that once the people of Delhi will give more powers by supporting them in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will take up the matter more effectively.”
AAP national spokesperson attacked the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi for delaying the AAP government decision as he is the final administrative authority of the state. Pandey said, “LG is the highest authority in terms of administrative matters and playing in the hands of the Bhartiya Janata Party-led central government, as a result, there are many welfare schemes laid out by the AAP government for the people of Delhi waiting for his final approval.”
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