TGSRTC Employees Announce Strike Starting April 22
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Hyderabad, April 13 (NationPress) Employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) have made the decision to initiate a strike starting on April 22 to advocate for their demands.
This announcement was made by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of TGSRTC employees on Monday.
According to JAC leaders, despite submitting a notice for the strike on March 13, there has been no response from either the government or the management of TGSRTC.
They urged the government to take action to prevent the strike.
JAC chairman Thomas Reddy mentioned that they have presented 32 demands to the government and management.
Among the primary demands are the merger of RTC with the state government, conducting elections for labor unions, and ensuring that salaries and benefits align with those of government employees.
The impending strike could significantly impact public transportation throughout Telangana, with over 6,000 buses expected to be off the roads, affecting more than 60 lakh passengers daily.
The JAC's announcement comes even as Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged employees not to proceed with the strike.
The minister pointed out that the issue regarding the merger of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation with the state is currently under review by a committee.
He assured that the government is willing to discuss all concerns except for two outstanding matters.
The minister noted that the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) has already been released and that the government is contemplating the Pay Revision Commission (PRC).
Employees have been insisting on the fulfillment of promises made in the election manifesto.
The JAC's demands also encompass the realization of the long-awaited merger of RTC with the state government, implementation of two Pay Revision Commissions (PRC), payment of outstanding dues to the Credit Cooperative Society (CCS) and the employees’ provident fund, as well as wage revisions and pending allowances.
Last May, the JAC had postponed their indefinite strike following the state government's agreement to consider their demands.
The government had committed to establishing a three-member IAS committee to engage in discussions with the employees’ unions and address their grievances.
The JAC leaders have called for the government to ensure job security for the employees while also urging the procurement of electric buses for the RTC.