Commuters across Punjab are facing severe inconvenience as contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and the Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) launched a statewide strike, disrupting bus services at several depots.
The strike has been called by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union over long-pending demands. Workers are asking for regularisation of employees, removal of the outsourcing system, and withdrawal of police cases registered against union members during last year's protests.
Union Leadership Warns of Continued Action
In a video message released on Sunday evening, union state president Resham Singh Gill said the employees had served strike notices on the government, but no concrete decision had been taken despite repeated meetings.
"We have been assured several times that our demands would be met, but nothing has happened so far." — Resham Singh Gill, Union State President
According to The Tribune, the strike has brought state-run bus services to a standstill across the state, leaving passengers stranded at multiple bus stands.
Statewide Impact on Public Transport
The disruption is affecting daily commuters who depend on state-run buses for their travel. Reports from The Federal indicate that the strike by employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC brought bus services across the state to a standstill, with state-run buses out of operation.
Passengers in several cities, including Jalandhar, faced major inconvenience as employees of PUNBUS and PRTC went on strike, affecting public transport services across the region, as reported by video reports.
Union Demands and Government Response
The core issues behind the strike are not new. The union has been pushing for:
- Regularisation of contractual employees who have been working for years without permanent status
- Removal of the outsourcing system, which workers say leaves them without job security or benefits
- Withdrawal of police cases registered against union members during protests held last year
The union leadership has stated that despite repeated meetings with government officials and assurances given, no concrete decision has been taken. This lack of action prompted the statewide strike.
Our Take: A Long-Pending Problem Needs a Real Solution
To put it plainly, this strike was avoidable. The workers have been patient — they served notices, attended meetings, and waited for the government to act. The demands are not unreasonable. Regularisation of contractual staff is a standard practice in most public sector organisations, and the outsourcing system has long been criticised for leaving workers without basic protections.
The inconvenience to commuters is real, and we understand the frustration of passengers who rely on state buses every day. But the root cause is the government's failure to address worker grievances over a long period. When workers feel they have no other option, strikes become their only tool.
In our view, the Punjab government should treat this as a priority issue. Sitting across the table and offering assurances is not enough — workers need to see concrete action. The longer this drags on, the more it will cost the state in terms of public trust and transport reliability. Both sides need to find a middle ground quickly, because the people of Punjab cannot afford a prolonged disruption of their daily commute.
--- **Sources & References:** - The Tribune - The Federal - Video Report on Jalandhar Impact