Transport union leaders to go on indefinite hunger strike from Friday

A statement from the unions said the corporations deducted the salaries in May and June against the Revenue and Disaster Management Department order on maintaining attendance. “The corporations deducted salaries based on the average of last year’s working days. The earned leaves of the workers were deducted for some workers and salaries were being deducted for those who don’t have earned leaves,” it said, adding that it should be immediately rectified as per the Government Order.

Pointing out that the bus services have been suspended since July 1, the unions alleged that the corporations forced technical and office employees to attend to non-essential work. “In the last 15 days, 25 technical and office staff were affected by COVID-19 across the State. The employees should not be forced to attend work without adequate transport facilities. For essential works, the workers should be deployed on a rotation basis,” they demanded.

The confederation warned that if their demands were not addressed by July 23, two office-bearers from each union would go on an indefinite hunger strike in the city from July 24. “To draw the attention of the management, workers would give missed call to the Managing Directors of all transport corporations,” it said.