Bengaluru Metro employees call off tomorrow's strike, relief for commuters
Bringing huge relief to the regular commuters of Bengaluru Metro, about 900 employees have agreed to not strike tomorrow. This development happened after the Karnataka HC urged the feuding parties - the striking employees and the management of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd - to have a talk. The staff had announced an indefinite strike starting tomorrow demanding better pay and union recognition.
Strike deferred to mid-April, metro to run uninterrupted
"We have agreed to defer strike to mid-April to enable the management to consider our demands," said Union Leader Suryanarayana Murthy. The HC managed to bring about a temporary resolution while hearing the union's petition challenging the Essential Services Maintenance Act. The reconciliation meetings will be held from March 26 thrice a week, during which the metro should run uninterrupted, the HC ordered.
Why were the union members so agitated?
Nearly 75% of Bengaluru Metro's 1,200 employees are attached to the Bangalore Metro Rail Employees Union. They alleged that the union is registered and is a member of the INTUC, but it is yet to be recognized. Apart from union recognition, they also demanded implementation of the Third Pay Revision Committee and pay parity with the other metro networks like Kochi and Delhi.
