BMRCL employees are now facing the after-effects of the strike, which brought the Namma Metro network to a standstill on July 7.
While the employees’ union is claiming that the management had agreed not to pursue disciplinary action against those who participated, a show cause notice is likely to be issued to the employees concerned with possible repercussions on their career as well as financial penalties.
Union members are threatening another strike if the notice, drafted by the General Manager Operations, is issued. “We had been assured that this kind of disciplinary measure would not be pursued. BMRCL did not take any step to file complaints against people who assaulted its employees. Instead, it are punishing its own staff. We will take all steps to ensure that disciplinary action is not taken against our colleagues,” said Suryanarayana Murthy, vice president, BMRC Employees’ Union.
The flash strike was triggered by the arrest of a few BMRCL employees by the city police on the basis of a complaint filed by the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force. A scuffle had broken out between employees and KSISF personnel the previous day resulting in injuries on both sides. The police had arrested the security force personnel involved in the incident.
On July 7, metro services, which usually begin at 5 a.m., started around seven hours later after an emergency meeting of employees, management, MLA N.A. Haris and Hemant Nimbalkar, former Additional Commissioner of Police (East).