FOPSIA decides to oppose political parties assuring re-constitution of Truck Unions in Punjab

Ludhiana, January 3, 2022: Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations (FOPSIA) president Badish Jindal said in a statement here today that the FOPSIA has decided to oppose the political parties those are assuring the re constitution of Truck Unions in Punjab. Recently the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party announced the reviving of truck unions in Punjab. 
He addedthe multinational companies were scared to invest in Punjab and the local industry was fed up from the cartelization of these truck unions. This was the main reason that even after formation of invests Punjab policy in 2013 the industries shown no interest in Investment in state. Looking at all these factors the congress government decided to ban 134 trick unions in Punjab in 2017. This was a major relief for the trade and industry of Punjab. The congress approved the Punjab Goods Carriages (Regulation and Prevention of Cartelization Rules), 2017, that prohibit the truck operators from forming cartels or unions in the state. The notification issued by the Transport department said the government “is desirous of regulating the operations of goods carriages of all types with the object of bringing an end to the cartelization and consequent exploitation of consignors and consignees of goods by such formal or informal unions” including the truck unions.
Due to the cartelization of trade unions the industry was in deep trouble. The industry was forced to pay the higher freight cost to the trucks registered with the truck unions of respective area. Even in the situation of non-availability of trucks at the truck unions the traders were forced to wait till the availability of truck with the truck union of that area. They were not allowed to send their private trucks or to arrange the trucks from other transporters. 
Even the truck unions used to threaten the trucks coming from other areas or states to Punjab. There was monopoly of freight fixed by the unions and traders were not allowed to bargain the prices. Even it was seen that traders were attacked by the truck unions in case they tried to arrange truck from other transporters. Even in case of any loss by truck or in case of theft by drivers the traders were forced to pay the freight sue to the fear of these unions. 
Further, he said the private owned trucks or tempo of traders or industries were not allowed to operate in the area of truck unions. Even after having their own private carrier’s the industry was forced to get the trucks from public truck unions. The truck from other states was fear of coming to the area of truck unions as their drivers and vehicles were attacked by the goons of these truck unions.
The transporters of state were against the truck unions for such acts but these unions were so powerful that no one was allowed to speak against these unions. The grain markets were the soft targets of these unions and they used to exploit the Ahrtiyas.  These 134 truck unions were controlling 90000 trucks and having the full control on all the towns and cities of Punjab. 
He added in 2017 the newly formed government took a strong step to abolish these unions. The then government ignored the strong agitations of trucks unions and supported the trade and industry very strongly. But unfortunately the SAD & AAP is announcing their support to these unions for their vested interest of vote banks. 
Punjab is a land locked state and the trade and industry is fully dependent upon the transport to bring the raw materials and to dispatch the finished goods. The cost of freight is very important for the growth of trade and industry of Punjab. 
Concluding, he said the end of truck unions is must for a smooth and fearless development of industries in Punjab and if any party will support such move of Truck Unions the industry will strongly oppose such political parties in the upcoming elections. The FOPSIA will soon arrange meetings with other industrial organizations of state to oppose the political parties those are announcing such promises which may destroy the industry of state.