Transport workers threaten indefinite strike over broken promises, privatization push
Ferozepur, July 27, 2025: The Punjab Roadways-PUNBUS-PRTC Contract Workers Union has issued a stern warning of an indefinite strike if the state government fails to meet their long-standing demands, including cancellation of the kilometer scheme bus tenders and regularization of contractual staff.
In a press conference held in Ferozepur, Union President Resham Singh Gill, alongside media advisor Udik Chand, accused the government of betraying its promises made before coming to power. “The Chief Minister had pledged to end the contractor system and absorb contract workers into regular service, but three and a half years later, nothing has changed,” said Gill.
Key demands include equal pay for equal work, implementation of departmental service rules, cancellation of the tendering process for kilometer scheme buses—which the union claims favours corporate and political interests—and action against contractors accused of embezzling crores in EPF, ESI, and welfare funds.
Despite an earlier assurance on July 1, 2024, that a separate transport policy would be finalized within a month, no progress has been made. Meetings with the Finance and Transport Ministers have repeatedly been postponed or abandoned, most recently on July 16. The next scheduled meeting on July 28 is viewed as a final opportunity before escalation.
Union leaders have warned that if the July 28 meeting fails to deliver concrete outcomes, all Punjab depots—including Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Zira—will fully support a state-wide, indefinite strike. The estimated daily revenue loss to PRTC is Rs 3 to Rs 3.5 crore, for which the union holds the government and department officials directly responsible.
“We do not want to strike,” said Gill, “but we are left with no choice. If the government does not act, we will stop every wheel in Punjab.”