Fuel price hike: bus operators to strike work in Kerala

Kozhikode, Jun 25 : Private buses in Kerala will be off the roads on June 29 following a token strike called by the operators demanding increase in the fare structure in the wake of steep fuel price hike imposed by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

Talking to newspersons here, Kerala Private Bus Operators Coordination Commitee (KPBOCC) chairman A K Abdulla and Convenor Gopinath said Rs three per litre hike in prices of diesel would hit hard the private bus industry, which provided employment to thousands of people.

Calling upon the government to fix minimum fare at Rs six from the present Rs four to ensure survival of the industry, they said operators would be compelled to go on indefinite strike if their demands were not met.

They said a decision on the indefinite stir would be taken at a meeting of the Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation of private bus operators in the State at Thiruvananthapuram on July 21.

Other demands included refixing of student concession at 50 per cent in lieu of the present 12.5 per cent and kilometre charge at Re 65, they added.

--UNI

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Cochin shipyard strike affects normal operations

Kochi, Jun 10: The ongoing strike by the workers in the Cochin shipyard is badly affecting even its normal operations, including the work on strategic navel projects both in shipbuilding and ship repair which could affect security concern of the nation.

??The adamant and stubborn attitude of the workers union is eluding a fair and amicable settlement affecting the reputation and activities of Cochin shipyard limited,?? a CSL release said here today.

Stating that the wage rates prevalent in CSL and offered to the contractors? workmen were the best in the industry, it said that the demand made by the contractors? workers were unsustainable and without any basis.

The management had assured full support for any reasonable and genuine aspirations of the workers, it added.

Though the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), CSL management and the contractors federation had taken every effort to settle the issue, the union representing contractors? workmen were making unreasonable, unjustified and exorbitant demand, which were not prevalent in other industries in the state.

Pointing out that ship building and ship repair industry was going through a very difficult phase and orders were very difficult to come by and were secured against very stiff competition from other yards in India and aboard, it said this was a labour intensive industry and any exorbitant increase in labour rates would result in adversely impacting CSL?s inherent competitive strength.

--UNI

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Transport strike across Kerala hits trade, passengers

Pasengers in Kerala were hit hard as the transport sector went on a day-long strike to protest the rceent hike in petrol prices.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday agreed to give a rebate of Rs.1.22, the sales tax portion on the increased hike of Rs.5 per litre and requested the transporters to withdraw the strike. But the transport unions refused to budge.

The dawn to dusk strike call given by the Joint Action Council of Motor Transport Workers (JACMTW) and various unions in the transport sector, both state-owned and private, was also backed by the opposition Left parties.

Petrol prices in the last 11 months have gone up by 30 per cent, said K.K. Divakaran, a senior trade union leader and former Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator.

Life remained crippled in the state as people could not find a single public transport to move about.

Most shops across the state remained shut. Passengers arriving at the railway station here found it difficult to reach their destinations. Patients going to hospitals also faced problems with all buses and auto-rickshaws remaining off roads.

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Transport strike across Kerala hits trade, passengers

Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 : Pasengers in Kerala were hit hard as the transport sector went on a day-long strike to protest the rceent hike in petrol prices.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday agreed to give a rebate of Rs.1.22, the sales tax portion on the increased hike of Rs.5 per litre and requested the transporters to withdraw the strike. But the transport unions refused to budge.

The dawn to dusk strike call given by the Joint Action Council of Motor Transport Workers (JACMTW) and various unions in the transport sector, both state-owned and private, was also backed by the opposition Left parties.

Petrol prices in the last 11 months have gone up by 30 per cent, said K.K. Divakaran, a senior trade union leader and former Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator.

Life remained crippled in the state as people could not find a single public transport to move about.

Most shops across the state remained shut. Passengers arriving at the railway station here found it difficult to reach their destinations. Patients going to hospitals also faced problems with all buses and auto-rickshaws remaining off roads.

--IANS

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Motor strike hit normal life

Thiruvananthapuram, May 20: The dawn to dusk strike called by motor workers' union in protest against petrol price hike hit normal life in Kerala today.

Police said the strike was by and large peaceful as no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the region so far.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not run its services, affecting people who rely on public transport.

Private buses also did not operate their services, which had a great impact in the central and northern parts of the state.

Taxis and autorickshaws were also off the roads. Government offices registered thin attendance. However, private vehicles were plying.

A report from Kozhikode said normal life was affected in northern districts. Public transport, including buses, taxies and autorickshaws were off the roads, forcing the people to stay indoors.

Government and private offices here also reported thin attendince, while educational instititions remained closed as a result. However, private vehicles were plying in the region.

--UNI

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Minister says motor strike politically motivated

Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 : Shibu Baby John, who was sworn-in as Minister in the Oommen Chandy cabinet today alleged that the dawn to dusk strike called by various trade unions of motor workers was politically motivated.

Addressing a press conference here , he said ''though the State government had reduced the tax on petrol price in its first cabinet meeting, the decision by trade unions to go ahead with the strike was unfortunate.'' ''Trade unions supported by Left parties have ignored the request by the new state government to call off the strike as it has completed only 48 hours, leaving no time for the government to take a decision on the issue which requires more consultations with the Centre,'' he said.

''It is very unfortunate and this kind of approach by trade unions will destroy investment opportunities in the state,'' he added.

''The Left parties are misusing trade unions for their political agenda. A majority of vehicles only use diesel, not petrol. This motor strike is one of that kind of misuse as there is no strike by the left parties in Tripura and Tamil Nadu on the issue,'' he pointed out.

''The Government would also look into ''Nooku Kuli'' (wages without work) by Left unions in the state. A decision on the issue would be announced after a detailed study and consultations with various trade unions,'' he said.

--UNI

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