JOIN USBesides introducing Namma Metro’s first six-car train on Friday, the BMRCL reached out to its disgruntled employees, who have given three strike calls in the past four months, by extending benefits although the workers’ union said only 5% of their demands were fulfilled.
In a statement, BMRCL managing director Mahendra Jain said there had been a significant increase in train trips, ridership and revenue, and praised the “untiring efforts of each and every member of the Namma Metro family”. He said the management had decided to extend financial and non-financial benefits to the operations and maintenance staff of the organisation.
The financial benefits include four allowances for night duty, hard duty (applicable to train operators), washing and transport. Employees will also get a general holiday allowance in place of the weekly off falling on such days. The seven non-financial benefits include subsidised food at the BMRCL depot, recognition of the Kannada Sangha of the BMRCL, constructing a creche at places with over 100 women employees and amending rules to create intermediate posts for promotion.
BMRCL Employees’ Union vice president Suryanarayana Murthy said only 5% of their demands were met. “The hike in the salary and allowances is low. Our demand is for payments on par with other metro corporations in the country,” he added.