Transport Workers Federation urges State to save the sector

‘Transport drivers and cleaners are facing rough weather as they were held responsible for all the ills in the transport sector’. Pointing to the rise in transportation expenses, he said it was time the government rose to the occasion and adopt worker-friendly measures.

Leaders of All India Road Transport Workers Federation (AIRTWF) have demanded that the government initiate measures to save the transport sector by introducing welfare measures for its workers.

The federation, which held its three-day national convention in the city, passed a resolution in the valedictory session on Wednesday, drawing the government’s attention to a number of issues related to welfare of the transport workers.

“Transport sector plays a key role in national and State economies, as it fetches revenue worth thousands of crores of rupees to the exchequer. And yet the government fails to make adequate budget allocation construction of proper roads and their maintenance,” said the federation’s national general secretary K.K. Diwakaran.

Pointing to the rise in transportation expenses, he said it was time the government rose to the occasion and adopt worker-friendly measures.

Centre for Indian Trade Unions (SITU) State general secretary M.A. Gafoor took strong exception to what he called ‘deregulation’ of diesel prices and leaving it to the whim and fancy of the market forces. He also found fault with ‘privatisation’ of infrastructure maintenance and said it had an adverse impact on the sector. Rise in insurance premiums was also causing hardship to the workers, he said.

Mr. Gafoor said transport drivers and cleaners were facing rough weather as they were held responsible for all the ills in the transport sector.

Resolution

The resolution passed at the meeting urged the government to ensure minimum wages, work hours system and social security benefits like ESI, pension and Provident Fund.

It also demanded immediate steps for constitution of a welfare board for the workers which could look into issues like treatment or payment of compensation to a worker in the event of meeting with an accident.

The Federation’s State leader R. Lakshmaiah, who presided over the meeting, called on the workers across the State to participate in the proposed agitation in protest against Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 the government proposes to introduce.

Krishna district Lorry Owners Association president Y.V. Eeswar Rao, CITU district president NCH Srinivas, Sk and the Federation’s State secretary Sk. Subhan participated.