HC ruling to decide on metro strike today

Namma Metro will run as usual at least till afternoon on Monday, as BMRCL employees have decided to wait for the high court’s order in an ongoing case before beginning their indefinite strike.

The management of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited has approached the court against the strike called by the employees, who claim that their long-standing demands regarding salary and service conditions have not been fulfilled.

“All the employees will carry on with their duty till afternoon when the hearing is likely to begin in the high court. Our strike depends on what the court tells us. Previously, we have respected its orders and postponed the strike,” said Suryanarayana Murthy, vice-president, BMRCL employees union. Over the past four months, the high court had stayed the strike twice, urging the management and the employees to resolve the issues through dialogue. The two parties could not settle the issues even after a series of meetings.

The high court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing based on the management’s appeal against the strike, in view of a reconciliation meeting called by the regional labour commissioner the following day. As the proceedings failed, the strike threatened to disrupt the metro services on Monday. The bone of contention in the dispute is recognition of the union, which the BMRCL has rejected. Sources in the management said they were ready to consider the employees’ demands, but there was no question of recognising the union.