SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: United Balarath Employees Association on Thursday withdrew their strike scheduled on March 27 following an assurance from the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to increase their wages.
“The balrath employees strike, which was scheduled for March 27, has been withdrawn after Chief Minister assured the union members to make provision for the salary hike for balrath staff in the coming State Budget,” union leader Swati Kerkar told media persons after meeting with the Chief Minister.
Apart from higher salaries, the employees had also demanded job security, benefits of PF, ESI and health insurance.
Drivers and attendants employed to run the balrath service to transport school students had warned to go on an indefinite strike if the State government fails to revise their wages and meet their long pending demands.
According to the union, around 844 employees working on Balrath buses get Rs 11,000 while conductors are paid Rs 5500.
The scheme started in 2009-10 and the last time there was a hike in their remuneration was in 2017. For drivers, the hike was of Rs 1,000 and attendants Rs 500 per month.
