Haryana Roadways Workers Protest Following Sacking of 365 Drivers

Three months after protesting against the Haryana government’s move to privatise buses, state roadways workers came out on to the streets again to protest against the decision of sacking 365 drivers, who were hired on contractual basis in 2016.

Until now, 35 drivers have received termination orders from the general manager of Faridabad depot. The development has resulted in resentment among the workers, who held a demonstration yesterday against the government’s decision. Haryana roadways workers have condemned the decision, by calling it “vindictive and oppressive” action by the BJP-led Haryana government, and the management of Haryana Roadways.

Criticising the state government for its anti-workers policies, Sarbat Punia, general secretary, Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union, told Newsclick, “The government is taking revenge for the 18-day strike that we had organised earlier. Otherwise, when there is dearth of staff members, why would they decide to sack 365 workers? There is no explanation of that.”

He added, “This is a nefarious plan by the government and management to provoke the workers. Earlier, they decided to privatise buses, after which they discontinued overtime, creating problems for the commuters, and now, it has decided to terminate the services of 365 contractual employees who were hired in 2016. We held a demonstration yesterday. We have a meeting tomorrow where we will chalk out our future actions.”

As per reports, the decision to sack 365 contractual workers was taken on November 26, at a meeting held in Chandigarh. “The employees were recruited under the outsourcing policy, part-2, of April 6, 2015, and it was till the appointment of regular staff. The department had a surplus staff of over 200 drivers here recruited this year,” The Tribune quoted Vikas Yadav, GM, Haryana Roadways, Faridabad as saying.

Punia has refuted the claims made by Yadav, he told Newsclick, “There is a huge shortage of staff members. Until now, workers were hired on contractual basis, and their contract was renewed every year. When there is a shortage of staff, why would they terminate drivers? This is simply a conspiracy by the state government and the management to instil fear among the workers, so that they stop demanding their basic rights. We are not going to succumb to the government’s pressure. We will, once again, stand against them.”

For a long time, Haryana roadways workers have been at loggerheads with the state government over various issues. Previously, Haryana roadways workers had stood up in arms against the state government’s attempts at “backdoor privatisation of the roadways by introducing the kilometre scheme.” To thwart the strike, the government had also imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act, and had suspended 250 workers.

Newsclick had extensively covered the protest by the workers where they had expressed their anger Khattar government. The continuous resistance put up by the workers had ended only after the High Court’s intervention.