Now, staffers appealed by BMRCL to not go on strike

Days after warning its employees of stringent actions under Essential Services Management Act (ESMA), BMRCL on Saturday softened its stance by sending out a letter to all the metro stations, appealing the staffers not to go on the strike planned for March 22.

Noting that Namma Metro was providing reliable and safe service to lakhs of commuters, the letter stresses that management is willing to discuss 'any reasonable request or grievance' with aggrieved employees.  

The move comes a day after metro employees went public with their grievances by calling a press conference.

Union leaders on Friday noted that the high court had last year stayed the management's previous ESMA notification and invoking the act would be in contempt of court.

The letter still warns of action but under Metro Railway (O&M) Act 2002 and Metro Railway Employees General Rules 2013. Sources in BMRCL said the management was planning to move the high court to lift the stay on ESMA while at the same time reaching out to employees to thwart any protest.

However, employees were not convinced. "They say they are ready to talk but put a rider by saying the grievances we have listed are stayed in the court. We have lost faith in the management," they said.