Transport Bill 'anti-people', says AITUC, backs Apr 30 strike

Terming the new road transport Bill "retrograde" and "anti-people", AITUC today lent its support to a April 30 strike called by transport sector workers in protest against the proposed legislation.
The day-long strike has been called jointly by national- level road transport organisations -- representing both public and private sector workers -- which are affiliated to central trade unions like All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), BMS, INTUC, HMS, AICCTU, LPF and state-level outfits.
AITUC alleged that the NDA dispensation's plan to go ahead with the Bill was aimed at helping it take over the transport sector from the state governments. The move smacks of a kind of "authoritarianism" and is an "attack" on federalism, it said.

"The strike is against the retrograde/anti-people Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015, prepared by NDA government. Most of the state governments and road transport undertakings have also opposed it.
"The Bill enables the Union government to bring state road transport under its control. (But) till now, it has not been explained why it is "expedient" for the Centre to bring road transport under its control?
"The above declaration itself smacks of a kind of aggressiveness/authoritarianism and is an attack on federalism," AITUC General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said in a statement here.

The former MP claimed the Bill aims to privatise passenger transport in the country and that it would not serve any "public interest" once it becomes an Act.

"It is inimical to public interest. It paves the way for business houses to create big companies to enter the passenger road transport sector and establish their monopoly in taxi cars and autorickshaws engaged in self-employment schemes," he added.
AITUC charged that the Bill sounds the "death knell" for 54 state road transport undertakings in the country with a total workforce of about 10 lakh men and a combined fleet of about 1.2 lakh buses which provide efficient, safe and co-ordinated road transport services to a ridership of 2,500 crore passengers a year.