Woman auto driver, allegedly denied right to work, reinstated in Kerala’s Kochi
A 52-year-old female autorickshaw driver in Kochi was reinstated to her work stand after being blocked by a trade union for four months. The intervention followed public outcry and mediation by a rival trade union, highlighting issues regarding the right to work.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the power dynamics of trade unions and the challenges faced by independent workers in accessing public infrastructure.
A 52-year-old woman autorickshaw driver has alleged that she was not allowed to work at an auto stand outside the Ernakulam Junction railway station for over four months by members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) there after being expelled from the union. She was reinstated to the stand on Friday after her plight caught public attention through media reports.
Usha Babu, a native of Fort Kochi, said the union members had threatened her on multiple occasions when she tried to enter the stand. She claimed that she was ousted from the union following false allegations. She added that she and her ailing husband had been surviving on the income from her work after their son’s death.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in