Maharashtra govt warns of strict action against striking MSRTC staff

Around 47,097 MSRTC workers are still a part of the strike. File pic

After five months of talks, negotiations and legal wranglings, only 50 per cent of striking MSRTC staff are back at work. The state has now warned of strict action against those who fail to return. It could be suspension, dismissal or termination of service. Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab has now warned that they will initiate action "as per the rules".

However, on Monday, he also said that MSRTC would take back all employees who have joined work before March 31 and reverse all the earlier actions taken.

As per the latest statistics released by the MSRTC, of the over 81,686 staffers, only 34,586 are back at work as of April 2022 and 47,097 are still a part of the strike.

Of the 34,586 employees, 10,945 are from the administrative department, 9,217 are from workshops, 7,079 are drivers and 7,345 conductors.

The MSRTC has also decided to hire 11,000 employees on a contract basis so that there are no shortages and bus operations are not affected.

As per data available, the corporation operated over 12,000 daily services before the strike. The number came down to 5,000 after the strike began. The MSRTC now plans to increase it to at least 8,000 daily services with the help of contractual staff.

MSRTC employees went on indefinite strike in October-end over their demand for a merger of cash-strapped corporation with the state government. The strike intensified after the Diwali festival concluded. Despite giving a salary raise and assurances, there has been a stalemate. The High Court-appointed three-member committee has rejected the merger of the state transport corporation with the state government and has worked out a five-year plan to bail corporation out of the losses.

34,586
No. of workers back at work as of April 2022