The government has permitted 50% of buses to ply with 60% of passengers, following the relaxation in the COVID-19 lockdown. State transport workers protested that they are not scapegoats and the government should not look only into profits.
Coimbatore: The government has permitted 50% of buses to ply with 60% of passengers, following the relaxation in the COVID-19 lockdown. State transport workers protested that they are not scapegoats and the government should not look only into profits.
The protesting transport workers said, "The government should take appropriate action to control the spread of COVID-19. Transport workers cannot become the scapegoats for the government to look at only the profits and cite diesel as a reason." Transport workers agitated in front ofall the workshops.
"The government permitted 50% of the buses to ply with 60% of passengers. While the passengers are more, the number of buses are less. More passengers board the buses despite the warnings of the drivers and conductors. There is a great chance of the disease spreading due to overcrowded buses, due to the lack of social distancing. Therefore more number of buses need to be operated", they demanded.
The protests were held at 14 transport workshops including Sungam, Ondipudur and Ukkadam in Coimbatore. The protestors placed other demands such as the fumigation of buses, workshops, toilets and resting rooms with disinfectants, everyday. This they said will protect the employees. They raised slogans demanding that the branch administrations should not work just with the motive of profits.
At the Sungam workshop, the protests were led by the CITU General Secretary Velankanniraj, Arunagirinathan, LPF Nagaraj, AITUC Annadurai and Employees Union Williams and many of the workers took part in the protests.
The protesting transport workers said, "The government should take appropriate action to control the spread of COVID-19. Transport workers cannot become the scapegoats for the government to look at only the profits and cite diesel as a reason." Transport workers agitated in front ofall the workshops.
"The government permitted 50% of the buses to ply with 60% of passengers. While the passengers are more, the number of buses are less. More passengers board the buses despite the warnings of the drivers and conductors. There is a great chance of the disease spreading due to overcrowded buses, due to the lack of social distancing. Therefore more number of buses need to be operated", they demanded.
The protests were held at 14 transport workshops including Sungam, Ondipudur and Ukkadam in Coimbatore. The protestors placed other demands such as the fumigation of buses, workshops, toilets and resting rooms with disinfectants, everyday. This they said will protect the employees. They raised slogans demanding that the branch administrations should not work just with the motive of profits.
At the Sungam workshop, the protests were led by the CITU General Secretary Velankanniraj, Arunagirinathan, LPF Nagaraj, AITUC Annadurai and Employees Union Williams and many of the workers took part in the protests.