Wednesday, 11 May | PNS | Dehradun
Members of the Uttaranchal Roadways Employees Union (UREU) have expressed dissatisfaction at various issues including delayed payment, lack of incentives, disrespectful behaviour by owners of roadside eateries and lack of communication with higher authorities. These issues were raised at the union’s monthly meeting at the inter state bus terminus here on Tuesday.
Members stated during the meeting that their monthly salaries are delayed while the incentives they were provided earlier have been stopped. Talking to The Pioneer, union office bearer Sandeep Chaudhary said, “We are communicating our issues regularly with the authorities. We have written many letters to the State officials to look into the matter but nothing has happened on the ground. During the Covid pandemic we were told that no incentives will be given to us, that is understandable but things are better now so discontinuing the incentives even now is questionable,” he added.
He further said, “During halts while commuting to the destination, the passengers blame us for stopping the bus at selected Dhabas. But the state officials take these decisions. These Dhabas charge the customer more than the minimum selling price, with unhygienic and stale food,” he alleged.
The employees also expressed dissatisfaction at how they are treated at these restaurants and Dhabas while stopping there for a few minutes.
On the condition of anonymity a bus driver said, “I have faced humiliation at these Dhabas. The passengers sometimes abuse us for stopping there because of stale food and overpriced food items. We are bound to stop at fixed eateries otherwise we have to pay a fine,” he alleged.
On being asked what the authorities are doing in this matter Chaudhary said, “We have asked authorities to set up a meeting between the Dhaba owners and the union but we have not got any response yet,” he added.
