BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees have planned to go on strike on January 24 against the state government seeking fulfilment of demands. However, bus services will be available to the public.
The employees will hold a symbolic protest against the government to put forward their demands, at Freedom Park and in front of the divisional offices also. Employees of all four transport corporations will participate and the protest is led by the state road transport workers’ union.
The union stated that only those who have weekly off will take part in the protest and that there will be no disruption in public service. The transport utility has issued a warning that it will cut wages if employees to on leave on Tuesday.
What are the demands of transport workers?
- 20 per cent hike, including pay revision, basic pay and DA.
- Implementation of Form 4, which requires only an 8-hour workday.
- No harassment by superiors at depots.
- Those suspended after participating in previous ‘ protest should be reinstated immediately.
“We have organised a protest for tomorrow. The bus services will not be stopped and this is just a symbolic protest against the government to consider our demands. Employees work more than the required number of hours, but wages have not been increased. More than 16,000 vacancies are not been filled, due to which workload and harrasement has increased”, said said Anantha Subba Rao, president of the State Road Transport Workers Union.
“More than 2,000 employees were suspended, and they should be inducted. People who have FIR filed against them should be allowed to work. We have strengthened our union and, if required, we will take to the streets. The protest will be held in Freedom Park and it will be limited to 500 members, apart from in front of  divisonal offices. The transport corporations’ revenue will not be affected. We will think about the future after tomorrow’s protest. We want the government to call us and talk to us”, he added.