Six transport unions, including the KSRTC Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC), have announced a statewide indefinite strike on December 31, pressing for various demands. However, a split has emerged among the unions, with the Karnataka State Way Sarige Nigamala Sangathangala Okkuta opposing the strike.
Okkuta members argue that the JAC’s agenda does not align with the main demands of most transport workers. According to them, 95 percent of the workers of the four road transport institutes prefer equal pay to other government employees over the arrears demanded by the JAC.
“The Joint Working Committee is negotiating for arrears and 25% pay revision every four years. This proposal is unfair to the employees and far less than the pay hike given to other government employees under the 7th Pay Commission. We demand equal pay scale for RTC employees to ensure equality. We do,” Okkuta Coordinator R. Chandrasekhar said.
Mr. Chandrasekhar also dismissed the potential impact of the strike, insisting that most employees supported Okkuta and would not participate in the protest.
Meanwhile, the JAC and allied unions are determined to go ahead with the strike. They urged the government to resolve long pending issues including salary arrears and payment of gratuity. The unions claim that the government owes ₹1,750 crore in dues and ₹399.29 crore in gratuity.
Despite the promise of a pay hike from January 2024, union leaders express frustration over the government’s failure to act. “The strike has the full support of RTC employees,” said HV Anant Subba Rao, president of the KSRTC Employees and Labor Federation. ‘The Chief Minister and the Transport Minister have repeatedly promised to address our problems, but their inaction has left us with no choice.
published – Dec 24, 2024 09:43 pm IST