The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Strike puts IT, BPO firms’ staff to inconvenience

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Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Strike puts IT, BPO firms’ staff to inconvenience

Staff Reporter

Some vehicles ferrying employees were blocked by protestors

Fifteen extra vehicles have been taken on chartered services by IT companies: BMTC
Fifty night-service buses have been added to deal with extra rush

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Stranded: Traffic came to a stand still on the Mysore Road flyover in Bangalore when some miscreants deflated the tyres of transport vehicles ferrying employees of IT companies.

Bangalore: All those working in the IT and BPO sector, who thought that the transport strike would be a ticket to a free holiday, found that nothing in life comes on a platter. The IT/BPO sector was largely unaffected by the strike, even as employees had to experience discomfort and find their own way to office.

A few cab companies had announced that their vehicles would ply during the strike. These vehicles were stopped and tyres were deflated which resulted in all private BPO cabs staying off the roads. “Our Transport Department had told us that the cabs would be available, but we were informed during the day that we had to find our own way to office,” said Ankit, a BPO employee. Even as these nightshift employees used public transport to reach office, those who had not gotten back after Sunday’s night shift had to spend the night in office.

Arrangements

While some companies were forced to make last minute arrangements, some tried to find their way around the problem. Several companies have arranged for food and bedding for the employees, who will be forced to spend the night on company premises. According to an Infosys spokesperson, the company had planned beforehand and arranged for BMTC buses to pick up employees from common points.

Dastagir Sharief, Chief Traffic Manager, BMTC said 15 extra vehicles had been taken on chartered services by IT companies, 50 night-service buses had been added and that they have extended the timings till 1.30 a.m. to deal with the extra load.

Private vehicles ferrying employees were blocked by protestors who deflated tyres using nails and glass, which added to the traffic chaos in peak hours. Several private cabs and company buses enroute to Whitefield were stopped on the Mysore Road flyover, blocking the traffic in that area for over two hours.

However, some BPO companies maintained that the business had not been affected and that their transport companies had been functioning.

Several companies refused to comment on the issue. Dr. Pallab Bandopadhyay, Chief People Officer, Cambridge Solutions says: “The strike has had no impact on us. All our contractors worked and the cabs were all on time. Attendance was full.”

“We were told that we had to get to office or it would be considered as leave and that we would be dropped back home in the night,” said Chitra R. (name changed) of Accenture.

While some companies sent their female employees home early, others chose to stay overnight.

“We had a really fun time last year during bandh, so we are not worried in particular. It will be a problem only if this ordeal lasts longer than a day,” said Sandhya (name changed), an employee in a leading BPO, who came to office in a car pool.

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