Industrial Court Orders Rs3,000 Interim Hike for Aapli Bus Workers Amid Prolonged Strike
Aapli Bus strike Nagpur: The recent strike by Aapli Bus workers, which began on October 3, has created a major disruption in public transportation across Nagpur. The standoff between the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the private bus operators continues to escalate. In response to the long-standing wage stagnation faced by the workers, the Industrial Court Judge JP Zapate issued an order on Friday, granting an interim Rs3,000 salary hike for the protesting workers. However, the NMC has not yet officially received the court order, further delaying any action.
Background of the Aapli Bus Strike Nagpur
The strike began due to the workers’ dissatisfaction with their wages, which have remained stagnant for the past 15 years. Most workers have been earning between Rs10,000 and Rs12,000 per month, an amount they argue is insufficient to meet the rising cost of living. Their demand for a salary hike was met with resistance from the private operators, who manage the Aapli Bus service on behalf of the NMC. As a result, the workers chose to go on strike, disrupting bus services and creating chaos for commuters.
Impact on Nagpur’s Public Transportation
Before the strike, Nagpur had around 400 buses in service. However, with the strike, this number has dwindled to just 130 buses on the road, causing significant inconvenience for the city’s daily commuters. The strike has impacted those who rely on public transportation, particularly students, office workers, and individuals who do not have access to private vehicles.
The Role of NMC and Private Operators
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation, while technically overseeing the bus services, has maintained that it is not the principal employer of the Aapli Bus workers. The actual responsibility for paying the workers lies with private bus operators, such as Hansa, Travel Time, PMI, and Chalo Mobility Pvt Ltd. However, these operators claim they are following a government resolution (GR) from 2010, which they believe exempts them from paying higher wages. This has created a deadlock, as the workers continue to demand higher pay, while the operators argue they are already complying with the law.
Minimum Wages Act vs. Government Resolutions
The NMC has issued several penalty notices to the private operators, instructing them to comply with the Minimum Wages Act. However, the operators have pushed back, stating that the 2015 government resolution cited by the NMC does not apply to Aapli Bus workers. This legal dispute has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing standoff, making it difficult to reach a resolution.
Court’s Intervention and Rs3,000 Interim Salary Hike (Aapli Bus strike Nagpur)
In light of the strike, the Industrial Court Judge JP Zapate ordered an interim salary hike of Rs3,000 per month for the workers. This temporary raise is meant to address the immediate concerns of the workers, many of whom are struggling financially due to the long-standing wage stagnation. However, it remains to be seen how quickly this order will be implemented, as the NMC has not yet received the official court directive.
Formation of a Committee
In addition to the interim salary hike, the court has directed the formation of a committee. This committee will consist of representatives from the NMC, the private bus operators, and unions such as the Nagpur NMC Aapli Bus Kantrati Kamgar Sangh and Vanchit Bahujan Mathadi. The goal of the committee is to ensure that the salary hike is implemented swiftly and fairly. However, NMC officials have reported that both unions rejected the initial proposal.
Unions’ Response to the Court Order
The unions representing the Aapli Bus workers have expressed frustration with the court’s order, arguing that the Rs3,000 interim hike is not enough to address the workers’ financial concerns. They have also voiced their discontent with the NMC’s handling of the situation, accusing the corporation of shifting responsibility onto the private operators. Despite the court’s directive, the unions are standing firm in their demands for a more significant wage increase.
Further Court Hearings Scheduled
The court has summoned all parties to appear again on October 16 for further discussions. This hearing will provide an opportunity for the NMC, private operators, and unions to present their cases and hopefully move closer to a resolution. In the meantime, the strike continues, and the workers remain determined to secure better wages and working conditions.
Escalating Protests and Public Impact
As the strike drags on, tensions have continued to rise. On October 8, the workers moved their protest to Samvidhan Square, a prominent location in Nagpur. This escalation has garnered more public attention, but it has also heightened frustrations among commuters who are struggling to find alternative transportation options.
Partial Bus Service Resumption
Although some buses resumed operations on October 4 after termination notices were issued to certain workers, the service remains far below full capacity. The ongoing strike has crippled the public transport system, leaving many Nagpurians without reliable options for commuting.
Municipal Commissioner’s Stance
Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has been clear in his stance that the NMC is not the principal employer of the Aapli Bus workers. This has led to a shifting of responsibility to the private operators, who are expected to meet the workers’ demands. However, with both sides standing firm, there appears to be no immediate end in sight for the strike.
Rejection of Rs1,000 Pay Hike Offer
In a meeting held on October 7, the NMC’s transport department offered the workers a Rs1,000 pay hike. This offer was immediately rejected by the unions, who deemed it insufficient in light of the workers’ 15-year wage stagnation. The unions are demanding a more substantial increase, further complicating the negotiation process.
Looking Ahead: October 13 and Beyond
While the workers have agreed to pause their protest during the Dussehra and Dhammachakra Pravartan Day events on Saturday, they have made it clear that the strike will resume on October 13. The future of Nagpur’s public transportation system remains uncertain, with no clear resolution on the horizon. All eyes are now on the upcoming court hearing, where further discussions may provide a path forward.
A City in Waiting
The Aapli Bus strike has left Nagpur’s public transportation in a state of disarray. With no resolution in sight and the court hearing scheduled for October 16, the city’s commuters are left waiting for a solution that will restore bus services to full capacity. The Rs3,000 interim salary hike is a step in the right direction, but until all parties can come to an agreement, the strike is likely to continue.
- What is the Aapli Bus strike about? The strike was initiated by workers demanding a salary hike after 15 years of wage stagnation.
- How many buses are currently operational in Nagpur? Due to the strike, only about 130 buses out of 400 are currently in service.
- Who is responsible for paying the Aapli Bus workers? Private bus operators, not the NMC, are responsible for the workers’ wages.
- What is the Rs3,000 interim hike? The court-ordered Rs3,000 interim salary hike is meant to temporarily address workers’ financial concerns.
- When is the next court hearing? The next court hearing is scheduled for October 16, 2024, to further discuss the issue.
