Port Blair, Feb 20: The one-day strike by the employees of the State Transport Services which was scheduled to be held on 22nd February, 2018, has been postponed to a later date following a meeting, a delegation of the Govt. Motor Transport Drivers’ Union (CITU) led by its President Mr. B. Chandrachoodan had with the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration today.
The Union had raised the demand of regularization of services of daily rated drivers, conductors, workshop staff who have been working in the STS for the last several years, against the vacant posts.
The Union had also demanded that EPF subscription of the daily rated employees be deducted from their monthly wages immediately. The Union had also raised the demand of payment of arrears accrued on the implementation of 1/30th of pay plus DA to the employees.
The demands were discussed in detail in the meeting which was attended among others by Mr. Ramesh Verma, IAS, Secretary (Transport) Mr. B. Binoy, Deputy Director (Admn/Vig), Directorate of Transport. The Chief Secretary informed that due to insufficient fund, the Finance Department did not clear the proposal of the Transport Department for the settlement of the 1/30th of pay arrears to the DRMs.
As per a press communication, the CS informed that the matter will be taken up again with the Finance Department for consideration of arrears payment. On the demand of deduction of the EPF contribution from the wages of the daily rated employees, the Chief Secretary directed the department to submit a proposal within a week time, for starting the EPF Scheme to the DRMs with immediate effect. The Union demanded for regularization of the services of Daily Rated Employees against regular vacancies as has been done in the past. The Union referred to the proceedings of the Selection Committee meeting held on 22.07.2009 and said that some of the candidates are still left out.
The Chief Secretary desired that it may be re-examined in detail again and a comprehensive proposal on this may be submitted to the Chief Secretary. Mr. PK Khalid, General Secretary and other office bearers of the Govt. Motor Transport Drivers’ Union were also in the delegation of the Union.
