The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Employees’ Union has decided to go on indefinite strike from June 4. The union had first called for an indefinite strike from March 23. However, the strike call was stalled following the intervention of the Karnataka High Court.
The HC had ordered the management of BMRCL and the union to resolve the issues through discussions. Though discussions were held, they failed to reach a consensus . The union revived the strike call from April 28. The BMRCL approached the court.
The court again directed both parties to resolve the issue by May 3. Now, the union claims that the management failed to comply with the order.
“The union representatives were called for a meeting at 4.30 p.m on May 3. No discussions were held on the issues. The management just handed over the list of our demands and their remarks against each, thereby, rejecting all the non-financial issues and refused to resolve the financial issues raised by the union. They also indicated that no further meeting will take place with union representatives on their demands. Thus, the management has disobeyed the orders of the court passed on March 20 and April 27 deliberately in utter disregard of the said orders,” a press release from the union states.
The release further states that the decision on reviving the strike call was taken in a special general body meeting of the union on May 13. “The strike is being imposed on the employees by the indifferent, hostile and non-cooperative attitude of the management. The strike is being resorted to by the employees only as a last resort.”
‘Will take action against errant employees’
BMRCL MD Mahendra Jain said that the management will not hesitate to take stringent action against errant employees if they persist with the threat (of going on indefinite strike). “They alone will be responsible for the consequences which may follow if they take such a step. We will operate the Metro services, with or without them, during the strike if ever they decide to go ahead with this self-defeating step. We hope that better sense will prevail and innocent workmen will not suffer on account of the misadventures of the leaders of this so-called union,” he said.
Mr. Jain said that the High Court has clearly directed the union not to go on strike without obtaining permission, and giving prior intimation to the court. “It is surprising and disappointing to see, however, that they have neither any regard for directions of the court nor any concern for the organisation which has given them and their families a life-long source of livelihood, and is taking good care of them, nor any concern or sense of responsibility for the people of Bengaluru by holding them to ransom every second day by issuing these threats to go on strike.”
He refuted the charge of the union. "We have obeyed the court order and will be shortly submitting a report regarding the discussion on non-financial demands to the court."
