MSRTC staff take up odd jobs, but carry on strike

Feroz Baig, a bus driver, has taken up odd labour jobs of painting and plastering walls (right) Subhash Pole runs a mask shop to meet ends

Amid the ongoing MSRTC strike, just over 25,000 of the 96,000 employees have rejoined work while the others are still continuing their "mourning and strike", as they remain firm on their demands of merger with the government, and are taking up odd jobs to meet ends.

"Adamant employees have taken up odd jobs to keep going as those on strike are not getting salaries. While a section of employees has joined work, a significant majority of employees, influenced by peer pressure, leaders or simply under false belief have kept the strike going and taken up odd jobs to keep their homes running," an insider said.

Employees have been firm on their stand of merging the corporation with the state government, a demand which is being looked into by a court-appointed committee. However, workers have been insisting that the government should do it at once if it wants them to rejoin work. Bus driver Feroz Baig of Pathri bus depot in Parbhani district, for example, has taken up odd labour jobs of painting and plastering walls. "I will keep doing this as a part of the mourning protest till our demands are met, as I have family to support," he said.

His colleague Vijay Suryawanshi, a senior bus conductor for 25 years at the same depot, is now ironing clothes. "The government is not looking after us despite promises. We will continue the mourning protest and keep doing this till the state government decides on the merger," he said. Another employee, Subhash Pole from Hingoli bus depot, has set up a mask shop. "Life and protest both need to go on and hence I have taken up this task which brings me at least some revenue," he said.

The Maharashtra government has tried everything, from legal battles to harsh actions, but employees are not ready to yield. The government has assured them of a salary raise, withdrawal of suspensions and dismissals and even of disbursing salary by 10th of every month; this despite the fact that the MSRTC has been facing its worst financial crisis after the Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. Passenger numbers never picked up, leading to losses and lack of funds. The strike is now further fuelling losses.

Till last week, after more than 80 days, less than 26,500 of the 96,000 employees had joined back for work, keeping just 125 of the 250 depots running, that too partially. Being one of India's biggest public transporters with a fleet of 18,000 buses and a staff of 96,000 employees, it is the lifeline of Maharashtra, with almost every village covered by a state transport route.

26,500
No. of staffers who have rejoined work so far