Roadways bus services across Kumaon are set to remain suspended on Friday after employees announced a one-day work boycott over 6 demands, including equal pay for equal work and the regularisation of special-category and contractual staff.

The Uttarakhand Roadways Employees’ Union said employees at 8 depots in Kumaon would participate. More than 1,000 drivers and conductors are expected to join the action. Employees submitted leave applications at their respective depots for the day.

The boycott began at midnight on 22 October, according to the union’s earlier announcement. The action is intended to press the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation to address the employees’ demands.

6 demands at the centre of the dispute

The union is seeking:

  • Equal pay for equal work.
  • Regularisation of special-category and contractual employees.
  • Payment of salaries on time.
  • Early payment of dearness allowance to special-category employees.
  • Expansion of the corporation’s bus fleet.
  • Settlement of old outstanding dues.

Union state president Kamal Papnai said members were ready for the statewide work boycott. The union has assigned separate responsibilities to provincial, regional and depot-level office-bearers in the corporation’s Dehradun, Nainital and Tanakpur regions.

Employees linked to the Roadways SC-ST Workers’ Organisation have also supported the boycott, according to the union.

Haldwani and Bhawali services affected

At the Haldwani depot, more than 20 employees had applied for leave by Thursday evening, said Sanjay Pandey, assistant regional manager of the depot. He said depot officials had been instructed to prevent disruption to bus services.

The union, however, said Roadways operations in Kumaon would remain closed during the boycott. The development is expected to affect passengers who rely on buses for travel between towns, districts and neighbouring states.

No buses will operate from Bhawali depot on Friday, according to L.D. Paliwal, the union’s state deputy general secretary. Services from Bhawali to Delhi, Dehradun, Agra, Mussoorie, Bhimtal, Chanoti, Gopeshwar, Bareilly and Mukteshwar are among those affected.

Paliwal said the corporation’s headquarters had called representatives from Kumaon to Dehradun for talks at 11:30 on Thursday morning. He said travelling to Dehradun at such short notice was not possible, and the work boycott would therefore continue on Friday.

Possible indefinite strike from 30 October

The union has warned that employees will begin an indefinite work boycott from 30 October if the corporation management does not take a positive decision on their demands.

The immediate action is for one day, but the proposed escalation could lead to a longer interruption of Roadways services across Uttarakhand. The next development will depend on discussions between the corporation management and employee organisations.

Conclusion

Roadways services in Kumaon are scheduled to stop on Friday as employees press 6 demands. The union has warned of an indefinite boycott from 30 October if management does not resolve the issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why are Roadways employees boycotting work?

The employees are protesting over 6 demands, including equal pay, regularisation, timely salaries, dearness allowance, a larger bus fleet and payment of old dues.

Q. How many employees are expected to join the boycott?

The union estimates that more than 1,000 drivers and conductors from Kumaon’s 8 depots may participate.

Q. Which regions have union office-bearers been assigned responsibilities?

Responsibilities have been assigned in the Dehradun, Nainital and Tanakpur regions.

Q. Which Bhawali routes will be affected?

Services from Bhawali to Delhi, Dehradun, Agra, Mussoorie, Bhimtal, Chanoti, Gopeshwar, Bareilly and Mukteshwar are among the affected routes.

Q. Could the work boycott continue beyond Friday?

Yes. The union has warned of an indefinite work boycott from 30 October if management does not take a positive decision on the demands.

Q. Did the corporation call the union for talks?

Representatives were called to the corporation headquarters in Dehradun for talks at 11:30 on Thursday morning. The union said travelling from Kumaon at short notice was not possible.