Transport workers' rally may find commuters harassed again

City commuters are in for a hard time tomorrow as transport workers are scheduled to participate in a rally to protest against West Bengal government's alleged apathy to improve their working condition.
"All workers including bus drivers, ticket-conductors, helpers, taxi drivers, operators will participate in tomorrow's rally to protest against the state government's atrocities," INTUC leader Ramen Pandey told PTI today.
On whether the participation of the workers in tomorrow's rally would be seen as another unannounced strike, similar to those called since August 7, Pandey said: "Yes you can call it a strike, but we are helpless we have no other option than this."

The state government has cut down on the number of state-run buses and introduced AC buses which general people could not afford, Pandey alleged.
CITU leader Shaymal Chakraborty echoed Pandey's words and said that the state government would be held responsible for the sufferings of the commuters tomorrow not the Unions.
"We have not called a strike. We have called a rally and workers will participate in it. And if for that the services are affected we should not be held responsible but the state government," Chakraborty alleged.

"They (state government) are cheating workers. Their PFs are getting deducted but are not deposited... Their salaries are not paid, Durga Puja bonus are not paid and list is long," he further added.

Twenty-two drivers were arrested for vandalism during a protest on August 7 and taxis went off the road since August 11 with the drivers demanding their unconditional release. Those arrested were later released on bail.
Taxi unions in the city have till now called strikes six times. Besides fare hike, they are demanding government to drop legal proceedings against 450 taxis and halt slapping of Rs 3,000 penalty for passenger refusal, a common practice among the city's cabbies.