THE All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF), in a statement issued on September 7, has strongly condemned the callous attitude of the Punjab government in settling the just and genuine demands of the contract workers of PUNBUS, of Punjab Roadways. AIRTWF demands the government of Punjab to settle the issues forthwith.

AIRTWF extends wholehearted support to the indefinite strike started by the workers from the early hours of. The demands are regularisation of the contract workers; implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on “equal work-equal pay” and increase of bus fleet to meet the travel needs of the people of Punjab.

AIRTWF appeals all the affiliated unions/federations and all the state committees to extend support and solidarity to the striking workers and send emails to the chief minister of Punjab asking him to settle the demands.

The workers of PUNBUS are working on contract basis since long time. The then NDA government paid a deaf ear to the demands of the workers. The present Congress government under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh has dragged on the issue with simply giving assurances and never implementing them. The government has utterly failed to address the demands. The workers sent several deputations to the government and organised struggles for the redressal of their demands. When all these attempts did not result in making the government act, the workers were compelled to go on an indefinite strike from September 6.