Surat : City Bus Drivers Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Surat : Tens of hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded along the Sachin-Udhana road in Surat as City Bus drivers initiated a strike to protest the non-payment of salaries for the past two months.

The striking bus drivers congregated at the Sachin depot of Sitilink and demonstrated against the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the contract agency responsible for the prolonged salary delays.

Controversies surrounding mass transportation in Surat continue to surface, along with allegations of inaction by corporation officials and collusion with contractors. The latest issue to plague the city’s public transportation system involves the non-payment of salaries to city bus drivers for the last two months, leading to their protests.

At the Sachin bus depot, an extensive queue of buses stood idle as drivers ceased operations. They also issued a stern threat, stating that they would not resume bus services until their outstanding salaries were paid. It’s important to note that Surat city bus drivers typically work on a contractual basis, and their current struggle pertains to the non-payment of wages.

The protesting bus drivers emphasized that their financial situation had become increasingly precarious, especially as the festive season approached. They expressed their frustration with contractors, accusing them of exploiting their labor and failing to disburse their earnings on time. As a result, city bus drivers gathered their buses near Sachin station, obstructing the entire route and disrupting the schedule.

The strike has not only inconvenienced passengers but also highlighted the challenges faced by contractual workers in the city’s public transportation sector. The drivers’ demands for their overdue salaries underscore the importance of timely compensation, particularly in the run-up to festive seasons when financial pressures tend to intensify.