More work delays ahead: RTO employees set to intensify ongoing strike after minister says demands not as per rules

Pune: As the strike by clerical staff at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Maharashtra entered its seventh day on Monday, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said the employees’ demands are not in line with govt rules and regulations.The Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department Union launched the indefinite strike on June 16, severely affecting routine work at RTOs across the state. The employees are demanding promotions for clerical staff and the implementation of a time-bound promotion system.Reacting to the situation, Sarnaik told TOI, “Yes, they are on strike and it has caused inconvenience to citizens. However, their demands do not fit within the existing framework of govt rules.

Senior transport department officials have held discussions with the union on two occasions and tried to explain the situation. Recently, employees of BEST also went on strike, but the issue was resolved through dialogue. This week as well, our officials will hold talks with the union and we expect a positive outcome.

”The minister’s remarks further angered protesting employees, who have now threatened to intensify their agitation.

Union representatives said they had submitted a proposal nearly three-and-a-half years ago seeking rules for time-bound promotions, but no action had been taken.“Why didn’t the minister mention that we submitted a detailed proposal to state govt for framing promotion rules for clerical staff? The proposal has been ignored and pushed to the backburner. At the same time, promotions for officer-rank employees continue.

Several officers were promoted recently. In one case at Pune RTO, an employee who joined as a junior clerk retired from service without receiving a single promotion,” a union office-bearer said.According to the union, 74 posts of administrative officers across RTOs are vacant. Of the 200 sanctioned posts of office superintendents, nearly half remain unfilled. “With no promotion rules in place for clerical staff, govt should extend to us the same promotion norms that apply to officers.

A time-bound promotion system must also be introduced. We are not backing down. The strike will continue and be intensified,” the union representative said.The ongoing deadlock has left citizens struggling to complete essential RTO-related work.Kharadi resident Gurunath Birajdar said he visited Pune RTO for the second time in a week on Friday to complete the transfer of registration of his vehicle, only to find the office almost non-functional. “I have collected all the necessary documents and NOCs, but my work has come to a standstill because of the strike. Neither side seems to be making serious efforts to resolve the issue,” he said.Yerawada resident Amit Moghe is facing a similar problem. “I need a duplicate driving licence because I misplaced the original. With the counters shut, my application is stuck and I risk being fined every time I drive,” he said.