Striking MSRTC employees warned of action under MESMA

MSRTC workers continue to agitate at the Azad Maidan on Friday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Maharashtra Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman, Anil Parab, on Friday said that the transport undertaking had suffered a loss of Rs 450 crore in the past one month due to the strike. He warned striking workers that the Maharashtra government would take action against them under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) if required as the last resort.

"We have made our stand clear on the merger, we have raised the salary of employees and are working on solutions to the problems. But workers should resume work. We, as a government, cannot just think of workers, but also need to think about the common man's suffering as buses have not been functional. We will consult the chief minister's office and make an action plan before enforcing MESMA as the last resort," he said.

Parab said that there were rumours floating that the salary hike given was temporary, but if any employee verifies their October 2021 and December 2021 salary slips, it will prove that it is not so and the hike is here to stay.

Officials said that of the 92,266 employees on roll, 18,828 had resumed duty on Friday evening and 73,438 were yet to join duty. On Friday, 192 employees were suspended taking the total suspensions to 9,384 and 61 employees were dismissed taking the total dismissals to 1,980. Till 8pm, 1,382 bus services were operated.