On Monday, casual workers employed by the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) persisted with their strike for the fifth consecutive day, despite assurances from State Transport Minister Snehashis Chakraborty that they would receive a minimum of 26 days of work per month. The strike, centered around the SBSTC depots in various parts of the state, particularly in south Bengal, has disrupted bus services in locations such as Burdwan, Durgapur, Haldia, Medinipur, Digha, Siuri, and Rampurhat.
The minister, while urging the workers to end the strike during the festive season of Durga Puja for the convenience of the public, promised to address and fulfill their other demands. He stated, “I appeal to them to withdraw the strike. It is Durga Puja time, and it is better they resume bus services for the sake of people. We will try to ensure they get at least 26 days of work in a month. The rest of their demands will be discussed, and I will try to resolve them in the best of my capacity. I will sit with them after the Durga Puja. I have kept the doors for dialogue open.”
Highlighting that the protesters are casual workers engaged through an agency, the minister’s assurance did not satisfy Ranjan Pradhan of the INTTUC, under whose banner the strike is organized. Pradhan mentioned, “I had a word with the minister who agreed on two out of our seven demands. But later, he spoke to the media about one demand only. We will continue the strike until there is clarity on the issue.”
In addition to the demand for a minimum of 26 working days per month, the casual SBSTC workers are seeking holidays and other benefits. The transport minister, initially displeased with the sudden strike’s impact on bus services at the district level, found the workers maintaining their stance.
Taking a critical stance, BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh mocked the Trinamool Congress government, stating, “The School Service Commission (SSC) candidates are staging a protest. Now, the transport workers are on strike. Doctors and nurses too are unhappy. Name one department that is happy with the work of the TMC government.”
In response, senior TMC leader Madan Mitra congratulated the minister for actively engaging with the striking workers to resolve the deadlock and suggested that, given the festive season, the strike should be withdrawn.