The state transport authorities plan to modify the permit norms such that taxi, auto rickshaw, school bus and public transport bus drivers who support flash strikes.
Undeclared and arbitrary strikes by transport unions may be a thing of the past as the authorities plan to crack down on those who support such actions and inconvenience the public.
The state transport authorities plan to modify the permit norms such that taxi, auto rickshaw, school bus and public transport bus drivers who support flash strikes or other illegal agitations may either face a penalty or suspension of permit.
“The proposal to modify the permit norms will be tabled at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) meeting on Tuesday,” said a senior official from the state transport department requesting anonymity.
“We expect this to act as deterrent to frequent agitators and put an end to the blackmail which a few union leaders engage in to ensure that petty demands are met with.”
The official refused to go into details about the proposal as it is yet to be discussed by the MMRTA.
State transport commissioner VN More denied knowledge of any such proposal and added that “whatever decision is taken will be conveyed after Tuesday’s meeting”.
But, another transport official revealed that the proposal had come up for consideration at an earlier MMRTA meeting, but fearing a legal challenge from the unions “some work was done to frame the proposal, which seeks to intensify departmental action against errant drivers”.
“We are likely to double the amount of fine imposed and number of days for which the permits will be suspended. As the permit norms can be updated as and when the department deems it fit, we are making use of this right to bring in discipline among drivers,” he added.
Union leaders are not happy with the proposal.
Taximen’s union leader Anthony Quadros said they will challenge the proposal in court, if it curtails the right to strike. “A final decision will be announced only when we go through the proposal,” he said.
Criticising the proposal, autorickshaw union leader Sharad Rao said: “Even the British did not come up with such laws. The autorickshaw drivers may be self-employed, but we consider them as workers and thus, under the Trade Union Act they have the right to go on strike.”
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