Bengaluru: The pan-India, two-day strike by transport employees is likely to bring Bengaluru to its knees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Drivers’ associations across departments are extending support to the strike, called by transport associations across the country. Ten major trade unions, including the All-India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Ind ian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), SEWA and LPF, have called for the two-day general strike to protest against what they describe as the anti-worker and anti-trade union policies of the Narendra Modi government.
There’s no clarity on state road transport departments extending support to the bandh, worrying travellers who have booked tickets in KSRTC buses. Sources said that while officials have not supported the bandh, employees association have decided not to operate the buses for two days. Employees claimed that all the four unions of Benga luru Metropolitan Trans port Corporation, Karna taka State Road Transport Corporation, North West KSRTC and North East KSRTC have extended their support to the strike. BMTC and KSRTC buses will not be operated on these two days, they clarified.
Namma Metro will, however, run its services.
Mr Anand, a trade union leader, said “We are against the road safety bill that targets drivers and also amendments to the Labour Act. Around 1.25 lakh employees will strike work and 26,500 buses of KSRTC, North West KSRTC, North East KSRTC and BMTC will not operate. Only taxis will run as the drivers have said earlier that they are extending only moral support to the strike and they want to help the public. Employees in all other major sectors, such as the Railways, banks and electricity departments as well as those in the unorganised sectors, including street vendors and auto and taxi drivers, are expected to be part of the 48-hour strike”. The strike has been called mainly against the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2017 and amendments to the Labour Act, which have to be passed by the Rajya Sabha and are being opposed by various opposition parties for curtailing powers of state governments and favouring corporates. The government has said that the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, which has been passed by the Lok Sabha, has provisions that will make roads safer.
Mr Tanveer Pasha, president, Ola, Taxiforsure and Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association said, “Definitely all our 40,000 drivers are supporting this strike. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2017 will affect the driver's life. This Bill should be stopped, and an alternative thought of. We are offering moral support for the strike, as our drivers wanted to help the people. If all modes of transport go off the road, how will people move about? Also considering that our drivers will lose earnings, they decided to only extend moral support to the strike. Few of our cabs will ply on the two days.”
