Telangana Government Engages RTC Workers in Dialogue
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Synopsis
Hyderabad, Feb 7 (NationPress) As TGSRTC employees prepare for a strike starting February 9, the Telangana government has called for discussions with the unions representing these workers to address their demands and concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Strike notice served by JAC on January 27.
- 21 demands including merger with state government.
- Call for salary and allowance revisions since 2021.
- Push for recruitment resumption.
- Request for electric buses and smart cards for women.
Hyderabad, Feb 7 (NationPress) In light of the impending strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) scheduled for February 9 or later, the state government has called upon the unions representing these employees for discussions.
The Labour Commissioner extended an invitation on Friday for a meeting between the TGSRTC management and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the employees' unions, set for February 10.
This dialogue aims to address the concerns associated with the demands put forth by the JAC.
On January 27, the JAC issued a strike notice to TGSRTC management, highlighting a total of 21 demands, including the long-sought merger with the state government, initially proposed via a government order back in 2013.
The committee is advocating for swift actions to fulfill promises made in the election manifesto regarding RTC employee benefits, adjustments to salaries and allowances that have been pending since 2021, and the settlement of dues from the 2017 salary revision for retirees. Additionally, they are calling for the resumption of recruitment that has been halted for ten years.
The JAC submitted their list of demands along with the strike notice to TGSRTC Executive Director Muni Sekhar.
The unions are also pressing for the RTC to procure electric buses and manage their operations directly, rather than relying on private contractors for operations and maintenance.
The JAC highlighted the issues of work-related harassment and insecurity faced by employees. They noted that financial pressures and increased workloads have significantly impacted drivers.
Furthermore, the unions are requesting that the state government provide smart cards for eligible women to access free bus rides under the Mahalakshmi scheme, replacing the current system of zero tickets. They emphasized the need for increasing the bus fleet to accommodate rising passenger numbers.
Among the demands presented by the JAC is the withdrawal of cases against employees who participated in protests during the 2019 RTC strike.
They are also advocating for the government to allocate 3 percent of the budget for the enhancement of RTC.
