Bengaluru: With no discussion or consensus between the management and staff in sight, Namma Metro runs the risk of disruption once again. The Employees’ Union has two bones of contention –the invoking of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the staff who went on strike, which the Union will challenge in the High Court, and failure to reach a consensus on worker's grievances, despite hearings before the Central Labour Commission
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Kharola confirmed that no date has been set so far for the meeting between the management and workers.
“BMRCL told us that in a week, we will be called for a meeting to discuss the issues. Friday is only a day away and we have received no communication so far. If nothing happens, we will take some action," said Mr Suryanarayan Murthy, vice-president, BMRCL Labour Union.
The main demands of the union are scrapping of the chargesheet filed against the staff, no disciplinary action by management and recognition of the worker's union are their main.
"ESMA can only be invoked on transport under the Motor Vehicles Act and not on Metro and Railways which are on tracks. We approached the Central Labour Commissioner a year ago, presenting a charter of 26 demands related to work timings, wages, creche facilities, lunch breaks, etc," he said.
The minutes of the meeting at the Central Labour Commission held on June 12, 2017, accessed by Deccan Chronicle, shows failure in resolution. “The Management has not filed its reply even after many opportunities. They have not shown inclination towards conciliation proceeding. The Union have protested non-filing of reply by Management. All efforts made by Conciliation officer could not result in settlement, hence the dispute is closed as failure of conciliation," an excerpt of the document signed by the Conciliation Officer reads.
ADB inspecting Metro
Officials of the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank are in Bengaluru to inspect the progress of Metro. “The team is here to look at the progress of Namma Metro Phase-2. There was an inspection on Wednesday. They have proposed to fund us and the process is in place," said BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola. At the Phase-1 launch on June 17, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu announced that central government has approved an additional loan of Rs 2,160 crore from AIB.
