Kolkata: Commuters in Kolkata are likely to suffer today as trade unions have given a call for a 24 hour long taxi strike to protest against West Bengal government's alleged apathy towards improving their working condition.
CITU and AITUC are demanding a revised fare structure besides scrapping of the Rs 3,000 fine imposed on drivers for refusing passengers.
Apart from the two trade unions, most of the taxi unions in the city other than the Trinamool Congress-backed Progressive Taxi Union, would participate in the strike tomorrow to protest against alleged police atrocities.
"The strike is to protest against police torture on our drivers. We have also scheduled for a Nabanna movement," CITU leader Anadi Sahu said.
Criticising the role of the state government for not showing any interest in solving the issue despite several protests and strikes, Sahu recalled of setting a deadline of December 16 for the government to accept its demands.
"We had written to the chief minister, transport secretary and TMC general secretary Mukul Roy, informing them of our decision. In our letter we had mentioned if our demands are not met by December 16, we will be forced to call a 24-hour strike on December 19," Sahu said.
