MUMBAI:
MSRTC has sacked 1,148 staffers, mainly bus drivers-cum-conductors, for participating in a state-wide strike on June 8-9. The "biggest" sacking of staffers by the state transport undertaking in recent years was done to "send a stern warning to others", an official said.
While some MSRTC unions claimed it will affect services and have threatened to agitate if the personnel are not reinstated, the management said the action was "justified".
A senior official said, "These were new recruits, they had no business participating." The strike was not called by any particular union and workers, including many drivers and conductors, had demanded a salary revision. Drivers had complained they were being paid a meagre Rs 10,000 a month.
A senior official said, "The new recruits were given a good pay package of Rs15,000-17,000 a month and were on contract. We will replace them with those on the waiting list, it should not be a problem."
Sources said those sacked included 138 drivers-cum-conductors from Mumbai division.
Lakhs of commuters were inconvenienced due to the strike, which led to 70% buses staying off roads. MSRTC has more than 18,000 buses and ferries 65 lakh commuters daily. It has over a lakh staff in
Maharashtra, sources said.
The undertaking incurred losses of Rs 33 crore due to the strike, which was total at Parel and Kurla depots, and all buses including Mumbai-Pune Shivneri AC buses were off roads.
A transport ministry source said, "It was not clear which union had called the strike, so it was difficult to call anyone for discussions. The issue of fare revision is with the industrial tribunal, and the protestors can always register grievances before it instead of inconveniencing commuters."
Last October, when MSRTC workers had gone on strike for four days, the court had declared it "illegal". MSRTC had deducted salaries of workers who participated in the strike.
Sources said those sacked included 138 drivers-cum-conductors from Mumbai division.