Responding to the PMT's advertisement seeking temporary and daily drivers in November 2006 owing to staff shortage, 118 candidates had applied for the post, of which 100 are currently employed as contract employees. The PMPML management again advertised for the post drivers in November 2007, citing staff shortage, thus causing insecurity among the batch of 100 drivers working on contract.

"As the management had advertised for new drivers, our jobs were in danger. We feared we would lose our jobs and hence filed a case in the Labour Court, seeking direction to the management to desist from removing us," said Ashok Ranathambe, a driver. However, the PMPML management submitted an undertaking to the court, refuting the allegations while arguing that the management was compelled to advertise for more drivers due to shortage of drivers.

It clarified that the new drivers will be "in addition" to those presently working with the company.

Though the undertaking did temporarily quell the fear of joblessness, the workers are demanding a permanency in employment. They also allege that while they were working as daily wage labour initially, they had been forced to sign a contract. However, the PMPML maintained that all the drivers had been appointed by the management after they gave their consent.

"All the drivers had been selected as a part of the waiting list and were not appointed from January as they claim. We eventually signed a contract with them, after duly informing them, and they began working as contract employees," said Subrao Patil, managing director, PMPML.

"The management felt that employing drivers on contract will help to cut costs. However, barring a handful of employees who are creating trouble, we have no intention of removing any drivers. There is a possibility that we may even grantthem permanent status," added Patil.