The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Hired buses: talks fail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Hired buses: talks fail

NMU members walk out of meeting; stir threat by RTC staff

Conciliation meeting on January 2
Phased privatisation threat seen

HYDERABAD: The threat of an indefinite strike by APSRTC employees looms large following the failure of talks on Wednesday between the management and the National Mazdoor Union (NMU) over the move to hire private buses.

With the high-level committee constituted by the management rejecting the demand of NMU, the recognised union, to cancel the tender for hiring 1,500 private buses, its representatives walked out of the meeting.

M. Nageswar Rao, NMU president, said the “talks failed and we walked out”. The union had insisted on cancellation of the tender issued on Wednesday but the management said it was not possible at this juncture. The eight-member union delegation then walked out, maintaining that it would not hold further talks until the tender was cancelled.

Mr. Rao said NMU’s sole demand was that the management cancel the tender as hiring of private buses would “lead to privatisation in a phased manner”.

A conciliation meeting before the labour commissioner between the management and the NMU was scheduled to take place on January 2, he said. The management would most probably maintain the same stand. “Since the Managing Director and others are adamant, we expect a negative reply.” The date for indefinite strike would be announced the same day, Mr. Rao added.

No control

The NMU president said hiring of private buses would reduce employment, dilute promotional avenues, minimise the scope for regularisation of casual/contract workers.

Besides, RTC would not have any control over drivers of hired buses. While RTC would provide employment to seven persons per bus, the private bus would employ only two.

Meanwhile, the attempts to thwart the tendering process by leaders of the Joint Action Committee of APSRTC employees at Mahatma Gandhi bus station here were foiled by police. Several leaders, including AITUC State secretaries P.J. Chandrasekhar Rao and V.S. Bose were arrested.

In a statement, APSRTC Employees’ Union accused the NMU leaders of remaining indifferent and betraying workers’ trust. It warned that hired buses would be obstructed on roads.

Meanwhile, RTC sources said the tendering process which began on Wednesday in ten districts evoked good response.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh