City bus service employees protest shifting to private operator,sit on hunger strike

The staff for city bus service was recruited on a two-year contract by the MC which expired on November 15.

Drivers and conductors of Ludhiana city bus service which is under the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation sat on hunger strike at the MC headquarters,Zone A,on Friday.

Around 80 staff members began a chain hunger strike to protest against their shifting to a private company which will now be managing the city bus service.

Sarabjeet Singh,from Nagar Nigam Transport and Ludhiana City Bus Workers Union,told Newsline, Four persons from union are on a hunger strike for 24 hours. This will continue in the chain form till our demands are met.

The staff for city bus service was recruited on a two-year contract by the MC which expired on November 15. Now the MC has told them to join service under the Pune-based private firm Prasanna Purple Mobility Service which is all set to take over the city bus service maintenance.

However,the staff is not ready to leave government jobs. We were not even given a prior notice, said Sarabjeet.

However,Baljit Singh,manager of the city bus service,said now MC will not renew any contract and private firm is the only option left with staff if they at all want to join. Otherwise,they are relieved from MC service.

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