Ludhiana: Contract workers of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC have announced a statewide bus strike starting from the first shift on Sept 22, citing unfulfilled promises and four years of inconclusive negotiations with state authorities.The decision was finalised during a meeting of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus/PRTC Contract Workers Union at the Ludhiana depot, where representatives expressed deep resentment over two scheduled govt meetings this month that failed to materialise.Union leaders, including chairman Satnam Singh, highlighted that despite holding more than 50 meetings with govt officials and ministers over the past four years, their core grievances have only yielded verbal assurances rather than concrete policy action.Satnam Singh criticised the ongoing contract system, alleging financial exploitation through unauthorized commissions and deductions, while pointing out that govt promises to abolish contract-based recruitment remain unfulfilled.Union president Jatinder Singh warned that any disruption or inconvenience experienced by commuters during the proposed strike will fall squarely on the administration.“Any inconvenience caused to passengers during the proposed strike would be the responsibility of the govt,” said Jatinder Singh.Alongside regularising employment, the union demanded the immediate release of a worker currently in jail, the withdrawal of legal cases registered against employees during previous agitations, and an end to contract-system deductions. Union leaders reiterated that protests will continue until the administration meets their conditions.
