Maha transport workers on strike: 20 ST buses began operating between Malegaon and Nashik

Mumbai, October 20: The strike by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation employees’ strike in still high on fire as the demands to increase the salary has not been met. But at least 20 State Transport (ST) buses began operating along the route between Malegaon and Nashik areas after few employees resumed work on Thursday. This brought relief to the commuters along the Nashik route on the fourth day of the ongoing (ST) bus strike. Discussion took over the same with Transport Minister Diwakar Raote but didn’t yield the desired outputs. The strike entered its third day. 

The staff of Maharashtra Transport Strike demands implementation of 7th Pay Commission. Employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), who went on an indefinite strike on 17 October, are demanding the implementation of 7th pay commission.

"Ours, along with other transport unions want 7th pay commission to be implemented in the MSRTC. We were also in conversation with the government but they paid no heed to our problems. Therefore, we have now called an indefinite strike," said Dileep, a member of a staff union.

More than 17 thousand buses run throughout the entire state, and about one lakh workers are on strike. Meanwhile, this strike has left the daily commuter troubled. People were stranded on buses and roads for more than three hours on 17 October, the day the strike began. The passengers have appealed to the government to look into the matter.