Bengaluru: Despite implementation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Employees’ Association has threatened to go ahead with an indefinite strike from March 22 for the fulfilment of various demands, including hike in pay and PF etc.
Speaking to media here on March 9, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) State Division Legal Advisor D Leelakrishnan said, “We have informed about the strike to corporation Managing Director Mahendra Jain. But, instead of inviting us for negotiation, he is warning of stringent action through ESMA. Instead of solving the issue with dialogue, he himself is motivating us.”
“The Karnataka High Court has already stayed implementation of ESMA notification by the corporation. However, the ESMA is not applicable to the Metro which comes under the central government.”
“Moreover, the staff carried out a strike on 7 July 2017, with few demands and dropped the strike only after BMRCL’s assurance of fulfilling the demands. But they didn’t fulfill the assurances till date. BMRCL has not agreed to give recognition to the Metro Staff Employees’ Association”, he said.
“BMRCL has given facilities including promotion to the central office staff but operational division staff have not got it even once. In that division, many people are working from last 8 years without a promotion. There is provision to promote section engineers as assistant managers. The corporation is all set for a direct appointment for those posts”, said INTUC State Division General secretary T R Uday.
“BMRCL Additional General Manager was promoted thrice but he is giving mental torture to others. If anyone complains, he serves notice to threaten them,” they complained. Meanwhile, the staff said that the corporation was endangering the lives of passengers by forming “additional emergency team” to continue the Metro service during the strike.
