Mangaluru: Speaking to mangalorean.com, Canara Bus Owners Association president, Rajavarma Ballal said, ” Although the bus drivers and conductors have decided to go on strike tomorrow (30th April 2015) we the owners will not lend our support to the strike, for we feel that the amendment bill is in favor of the drivers and the general public. The punishment mentioned in the bill will be good for the drivers to be careful while driving and be safe drivers in the interest of the pedestrians/public”.
He further said, “As per the new act, any vehicle can be registered anywhere in the country and vehicles can ply between districts and across states without any hassles or problems. Vehicle taxes paid by the owners will be divided at the centre and distributed to the respected states. Also the amendment gives more choices to the passengers and the public, hence we fully support the new amendment bill, and therefore will stay away from joining the strike as planned by the bus drivers and conductors”.
So it will cause lots of inconveniences for public tomorrow when the buses stay off the road. The bus drivers and conductors are protesting against amendments brought to Road Safety Act. The leaders of CITU say that the amendments are anti-labour and anti-people. The punishments mentioned in the new amendment bill are very harsh resulting in jail terms and strict punishments for drivers involved in minor or simple accidents. Speaking over the phone, one of the union leaders said that they are also protesting against the behaviour of bus owners in DK who are delaying or non-paying the daily wages to conductors and drivers at the amount that has been negotiated and agreed earlier. In the meantime, unions have extended full support to the national level strike call given by different labour unions.
It is also learnt that apart from CITU and other Motor Vehicle Unions, KSRTC employees and auto rickshaw union members have also decided to join the strike. So the commuters will be looking forward to lots of inconveniences tomorrow when the buses stop their services.
