Auto union to protest on April 25

Trade union leader Sharad Rao has planned a protest rally, on April 25, of various trade unions, including those in the public transport sector, against the state government’s decision to add all kinds of public transport to the list of essential services.

Trade union leader Sharad Rao has planned a protest rally, on April 25, of various trade unions, including those in the public transport sector, against the state government’s decision to add all kinds of public transport to the list of essential services.

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Following repeated strikes by auto and taxi unions, the state government has incorporated an amendment in the Essential Services Act setting restrictions on strikes by staff in the public transport services.

Through this amendment along with civic buses, taxis and rickshaws will also come under the purview of Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act.

The rally at Azad Maidan on Wednesday afternoon is likely to affect the evening traffic in south Mumbai.

Unions from the port trust, railways, docks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, BEST, state transport, taxi and rickshaw are expected to participate.

“The government has introduced the amendment looking at the inconvenience caused to the public and the loss to the exchequer,” said Mohammad Afzal, a transport activist.