DTC Strike Forces Withdrawal of Circular Reducing Workers’ Wages

THE DTC workers under the banner of DTC Workers’ Unity Centre have been carrying forward against the Delhi govt. circular reducing the wages of all contract workers. From mass leaves to burning of the circular and reporting to work with black bands, the DTC workers came together to raise the demands of withdrawal of the AAP Gov.’s circular reducing wages; equal work for equal wages; an end to attempts to privatize DTC; and expansion of DTC fleet. Following the massive response to the strike ballot between September 25-28 in which 10,069 workers participated and 98% voted in favour of the strike, a DTC strike call was given on 29 October. A massive campaign was taken by the DTC unity centre to join DTC workers to this campaign. A Documentary -Chakka Jam documenting the struggles of DTC workers was also released. On 27 October, a press conference was organized in Women’s Press Corps in by DTC unity Centre in which members from teachers unions and fronts (DUSU and DTI), JNUSU, Jan Sanskriti Manch, Sangwari, CITU, Delhi AISA Unit and others also participated and expressed solidarity with the DTC workers. In response to the growing support for this struggle, the Delhi government tried to scare the workers by imposing ESMA on them. The workers were threatened with dire consequences however they refused to relent and on 29 October the strike was ensured. Thousands of workers ensured strike despite huge police presence in front of DTC depots. Members from Haryana Roadways Union also joined the DTC workers’ strike in solidarity and came to express their support. There were attempts by BJP that has been scuttling rights of workers in states that are BJP led to create confusion and extend false support, however these efforts were also rebuffed by the workers who pointed out how BJP state governments such as the one in Haryana were also violating workers’ rights and oppressing them. The historic strike in DTC happening after 30 years forced the government to withdraw the circular reducing wages of contract employees. This is a major success for the movement which has resolved to carry on the struggles demanding that contractual employees be made permanent, expansion of DTC. AICCTU National General Secretary, Com. Rajiv Dimri saluted and congratulated the DTC workers for their successful strike.