11 June,2014 08:31 AM IST | | Neha LM Tripathi and Nimesh Dave
The drivers and conductors of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation have been told by the contractor that their salaries will be delayed; they allege that the corporation has not increased salaries in the last three years
The drivers and conductors of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) are apprehensive about their remuneration, as tension mounts between the contractor and corporation.
The contractor has put up a notice stating that the salaries of workers will be delayed. Pic/Kaushik Ghanekar
On June 6, the contractor stuck a notice at the transport office stating that there would be a delay in paying salaries of drivers and conductors. Sources revealed that many workers may even quit, as they allege that the MBMC has not increased their salary in the last three years.
"While the contractor told us that the corporation, because of revenue losses, has caused the delay in salaries, it is us who are ultimately suffering," said a conductor working at MBMC. Another conductor remarked, "Despite increasing the ticket fares, the corporation has not increased our salaries. It really demotivates us and if this continues, we will not be able to work for long."
Speaking to mid-day, Tulsidas Ingole, union leader of Rashtriya Kamgar Sena, said, "The corporation has not increased salaries in the last three years. Drivers and conductors are not given any offs during the week. Despite our repeated demands, they have not paid any heed to us."
An MBMC official , on condition of anonymity, said, "The notice states that salaries will be delayed, but there is a possibility that drivers and conductors will not be given any pay. If the contractor wants to increase salaries, MBMC has to agree, which they don't seem keen on."
The other side
Deepak Sawant, head of assessment and collection department of the MBMC, said, "The workers have demanded a hike in their salaries, and we will be meeting the commissioner to discuss it in the coming week. The corporation is not facing any losses and workers got an increment in September last year. If there are issues related to the payment, it has to be sorted between the contractor and workers."
Rohit Bhanwal, a Mira Road resident
One uses buses only when travelling by train is not comfortable. If this situation continues, then youngsters and senior citizens, who prefer travelling by buses will face problems
