The workers of PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways Workers Union on Tuesday staging a massive protest at Ludhiana (top), the protest seen arguing with police (middle) and protestors submitting a memorandum to SDM (East) Ajay Sood (bottom).
City Air News photo: Mandeep Kumar Verma
Ludhiana, May 7, 2013:The workers of PUNBUS and Punjab Roadways Workers Union on Tuesday held a massive protest at Chhatar Singh Park here.
The protest was staged on a call given by the All-India Road Transport Workers Federation.
Protesters took out a march from Chhatar Singh Park to Bharat Nagar Chowk. Finally, they submitted a memorandum to SDM (East) Ajay Sood.
Tight security arrangements were made on the way.
A great inconvenience was caused to commuters, as the vehicular traffic on one side of the main road was interrupted due to the protest. Protestors were carrying banners and shouting slogans in favour to their demands.
Among other things they demanded, hike in the minimum wages, Workers recruited on a contractual basis in the Punjab Roadways be given salaries as per the notification issued by the Punjab Labour Department and arrears be released at the earliest.
They also sought that drivers/mechanics be given Rs 7,909 as salary with effect from September 2012 and from March 2013, they be given a monthly salary of Rs 8,404. They strongly opposed the privatisation move of the government. They also demanded that conductors be given a monthly salary of Rs 6,877 with effect from September 2012 and Rs 7,372 from March 2013.