India: Delhi metro workers threaten to strike /update 2

Event

Around 9000 non-executive employees of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) are threatening to resume their postponed strike unless their demands are met. According to leaders of the DMRC Staff Council, they will wait until the Delhi High Court hears their case on Friday, July 6, to decide if they will call for the strike. Some staff have been holding small demonstrations outside of metro stations in the city since June 30, when a strike was originally scheduled to be held.

Context

The Delhi High Court ordered a stay on the June 30 strike, stating that the employees did not provide sufficient notice and that the halting of a public utility used by 2.5 million people would be too disruptive. Some of the non-executive staff of the DMRC have been demonstrating by staging hunger strikes and sit-ins since June 19. The DMRC employees are demanding the right to form a union, a revision of salaries and pay grades, payment of debts, and fixed guidelines for firing an employee.

Advice

Individuals in Delhi are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid any protests and demonstrations as a precaution.