Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: United Balarath Employees association today has withdrawn their strike slated for March 27 after getting assurance from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“The Bal Rath strike, which was scheduled for March 27, has been withdrawn after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the United BalRath Union to make provision for the salary hike for Bal Rath staff in this budget,” said Leader Swati Kerkar.
Drivers and attendants employed to run the Balrath service to transport school students have warned to go on an indefinite strike if the State government fails to revise their wages and meet their long pending demands.
“Around 844 employees working on Balrath buses get Rs 11,000 while conductors are paid Rs 5500, and it has become difficult to feed our families. With rising inflation and prices of commodities skyrocketing, it’s difficult to make two ends meet with meagre salaries,” said Shivkumar Naik, General Secretary of the United Balarath Employees association.
“The pleas for higher salaries, job security, PF, ESI and health insurance placed before the government are in cold storage to date,” added Naik.
