Autorickshawmen’s Union’s bargains with the Transport Commissioner.

The Chief Minister’s much-publicised meeting with the autorickshaw unions on Sunday seems to have taken the steam out of Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union’s bargaining with the Transport Commissioner. 

Sources in the Transport Department said that an important meeting scheduled on Friday morning between the State Transport Commissioner VN More and Rao has been pushed ahead by a few days. 

The meeting was to be held for making a decision about which demands the department was willing to concede to the unions. With many important decisions already made by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, all that remains now is to follow the process of resolving long-pending issues. 

A senior official said, “One of the reasons for the rescheduling of the meeting is a national-level transport conference in Delhi, which the commissioner is attending. But, he is likely to come on Friday. It is true that the negotiations with the unions are not being considered as seriously now. Especially, after the CM’s meeting where major issues were settled. A meeting may be scheduled early next week.”

Union leader Sharad Rao said his union is not complaining about the delay. “We want to ensure that the 50paise hike from Sunday is implemented first. Negotiations can happen early next week. We are willing to wait,” clarified Rao.      

Rao added that the union’s demand about introducing a new formula for deciding fares will stay and the Patankar Committee report will be its reference text. “We will suggest our ideas, too.”