The state-run corporation termed the strike illegal, claiming that they had already agreed to pay dearness allowance and Diwali bonus amounting to around Rs 20,000 per person.
Leaving holidaying Mumbaikars stranded, more than 95 percent of the total 1.07 lakh staff of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) went on strike from midnight on Monday. The Maharashtra State ST Kamagar Sanghatana (MSSKS), supported by six other labour unions, have given an indefinite strike call demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, as well as a hike by 2.5 times in their salaries.
The state-run corporation termed the strike illegal, claiming that they had already agreed to pay dearness allowance and Diwali bonus amounting to around Rs 20,000 per person.
The situation will remain grim for lakhs of people across the state as the unions are yet to call off the strike. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that the strike would be called off, and he would intervene if needed.
A total of 18,000 MSRTC buses remained off road on Tuesday, causing hardship to around 65 lakh people, many of whom were headed to their native towns and villages.
On Tuesday morning, all 250 state transport bus depots were filled with stationary buses. This in turn, increased the load on the Indian Railways.
MSRTC usually operates 58,000 bus services across the state daily. On Tuesday, it could operate only 680 services. In Mumbai region – which includes Thane and Konkan — it operated just 28 services, and of those, only one in Mumbai city.
The MSRTC administration had set a 5 pm deadline for the unions to resume work, which was ignored. Stressing that they stand firm on the strike decision, Sandeep Shinde, leader of MSSKS said that they were ready for negotiations, but were not invited for it by the administration.
Transport minister Diwakar Raote said that the government was supportive of the pay hike demand made by the MSRTC employees. "All through the day, we asked the unions to come and resolve the issue, but they didn't," said Raote. "This is the doing of Congress-led unions. They didn't even listen to the Chief Minister. There are employees who want to work but are afraid."
Meanwhile, the state government allowed private vehicles including trucks, buses, school buses and other vehicles to ferry passengers. Transport authorities roped in more than 3,500 private buses, school buses and black-and-yellow taxis for passenger service till 2 pm, but they did not prove sufficient.
The Dadar-Pune Shivneri bus stand, from where a bus departs for Pune every 15 minutes, was did not have any staff or buses. Passengers complained that some private operators had hiked their fare. "I was not aware about the strike. I came to know when I reached here," said S More, 33-year-old Pune resident. The Mumbai-Pune Taxi Owners' Association said the demand for their taxis had grown two to three-fold.
The MSRTC is expecting a loss of Rs 22 crore due to the strike; they will be refunding money to people with prior bookings.
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