DTC strike: Notices warning of departmental action against employees absent

Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) depots across the city have posted notices warning employees of potential departmental action for absenteeism, as a contract workers union threatens a complete stop-work protest unless their demands are met. This comes as a strike by DTC contract bus drivers, which began on September 15 to demand higher wages, shows signs of easing, with around 60% of buses back on the road as of Wednesday.

The DTC Karamchari Ekta Union had warned on September 21 that all DTC contract employees would join a stop-work protest on September 28 if the government did not implement a basic dearness allowance (DA) file for contract workers, which the union says has been pending with the Chief Minister's office for two years. Despite assurances, the file remains unaddressed, and the union has made two demands: immediate implementation of the basic DA file and absorption of private drivers currently running DTC buses onto the DTC payroll with immediate effect.

Notices posted on Wednesday at various DTC depots state that departmental action will be taken against any employee absent on September 25 and 28. The strike by contractual drivers, which peaked with over 80% of buses off the road last week, appears to be losing steam, with union leaders reporting that approximately 60% of buses were operating on Wednesday.

The drivers' daily wage, along with poor service conditions, rising living costs, and traffic congestion, has fueled their demands for a minimum daily wage of Rs 2,000, payment for all government holidays, an annual bonus, and social security, including a medical scheme.