Irked MTC staffs to strike

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JAN 2: Irked by the state government’s insensitive attitude towards their plight, employees of the state owned transport corporation today decided to stage a statewide strike demanding immediate release of their pending salaries. The decision was taken at the general meeting of the Meghalaya Transport Corporation Workers’ Union (MTCWU) held on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, union president Erwin K Sutnga said, “We have decided to intensify our agitations to protest against the government’s insensitive attitude towards the employees by depriving them of their rights.”

He informed that as a mark of strong resentment, the employees will hold a statewide strike from January 5.

Before the statewide strike, a two-day strike will also be held from January 3-4 in the state capital.

“This is to pressurize the state government to release the pending salaries within January 15, besides ensuring payment of monthly salary,” he said.

When asked, Sutnga said that out of the five-month salary (which is to the tune of Rs 3 crore), salaries for two months was already released last month. But he said what is ironic is that most of the employees could only withdraw their salaries today.

He informed due to the delay in releasing the salaries the employees were deprived of celebrating the just concluded Christmas.

He also informed that the union also demands the immediate removal of the MTC Managing Director I Nikhla. “She (MD) should be transferred for her unacceptable attitude towards the employees,” he said.

The MTCWU also decided to put pressure on the state government to revamp the MTC. “It is high time that the corporation should be revamped,” Sutnga said.