The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers’ strike, which has disrupted bus services across the capital since September 16, has eased after the Delhi government barred strikes and agitations linked to DTC and Cluster bus services for six months.
The Delhi government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), which allows strikes in essential services to be prohibited.
Manoj Sharma, general secretary of the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, said the strike had lost momentum following the notification, but none of the drivers’ demands had been accepted. The Delhi government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), which allows strikes in essential services to be prohibited. The drivers currently receive Rs 747 per day, while the union has demanded a daily wage of at least Rs 2,000. DTC then deployed around 300 of its drivers with the private operators to keep buses running, according to the union.
The union is now chalking out its future strategy, he said. Union representatives said contractual drivers are paid considerably less than permanent DTC employees. A senior government official said the order will remain in force for six months.
