Punjab drivers posted with ministers, officers threaten to go on strike today
Thursday, 18/02/2016
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CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government drivers posted with ministers and bureaucrats here have threatened to go on a strike on Thursday. Till late Wednesday evening, senior government officials held talks with the drivers, asking them to put off the strike till Friday.
However, the drivers stuck to their stand, putting the government in a fix. Over 100 drivers are attached with bureaucrats and ministers here, who are spearheading this stir, seeking monetary benefits such as conveyance allowance, salary hike and insurance cover. Earlier in the day, senior bureaucrat KAP Sinha, who is the head of general administration, held talks with the drivers to break the deadlock. “The drivers were asking something that is not in my purview,” Sinha said.
As the stalemate persisted till evening, principal secretary (to CM) SK Sandhu also met the drivers’ association, asking them to call off the strike till Friday when senior officers will meet the drivers’ association to hear their demands.
“We held talks with Sinha and Sandhu without any breakthrough. We will not drive official vehicles on Thursday,” Daljeet Kaushal, vice-president of the association, said.
The association has given a call for a statewide strike. There are about 5,000 regular drivers, while as many are on contract. Meanwhile, chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal would meet the drivers’ of civil secretariat, mini-secretariat, and the Technical Employees Union at Punjab Bhawan here on February 19 at 11am. A spokesperson said deliberations would be on regular recruitment of drivers, removal of pay anomalies, travel allowance for drivers, promotion of supervisors, uniform allowance, insurance of vehicles and risk allowance.
