Ludhiana: Public transport unions in Punjab have suspended a planned three-day strike that threatened to paralyse state-run bus networks, following a last-minute negotiation window opened by state officials.The Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers Union called off the walkout — originally scheduled for Monday through Wednesday — after the govt guaranteed a high-level resolution meeting on June 2, which will include the state finance minister.The strike threatened to ground hundreds of state-run and regional transit buses, impacting lakhs of daily commuters.“The strike has been temporarily suspended in good faith,” said Sukhwinder Singh, the union’s Ludhiana vice-president. “However, if the June 2 summit fails to yield concrete results on our core demands, we will immediately announce a new wave of industrial action.”The union’s grievances centre on the long-term exploitation of contract labour. Key demands include the immediate regularisation of all temporary staff under statutory service rules, equal pay for equal work, and a total ban on outsourcing and private contracting within the state transport department.Furthermore, workers are demanding the immediate withdrawal of criminal charges and the release of union leaders arrested during previous labor demonstrations.Union executives also accused the Punjab govt of backdoor privatization. Labour unionists allege the state is intentionally crippling the govt-owned fleet to favor private operators through the controversial “kilometre scheme”, which integrates privately owned buses into state routes at the expense of public infrastructure.
