The private bus workers here, under the banner of the Private Bus Workers Coordination Committee, will start an indefinite strike from February 1 demanding a hike in wages. The union leaders said at a press conference held here on Wednesday that the decision was taken following a meeting convened by the District Collector on January 29. The private bus workers in Kochi, Aluva, Pookkattupady, Kakkanad, Tripunithura and Piravom will participate in the strike.
Union leaders alleged that the stubborn attitude on the part of the bus owners is the sole reason for not increasing the wages of the workers.
“The private bus workers are forced to work about 12-14 hours a day. The wages for drivers is Rs 577, conductors Rs 428 and for other workers Rs 400. We demand the the wages to be increased by Rs 125, Rs 105 and Rs 95, respectively,” they said.
K K Kaleshan, Joy Joseph, Jolly Powathil, R Raghuraj, Charles George and Jabbar Punnakkadan were present.