Transport corporation staff withdraw March 21 strike

BENGALURU: After the state government announced a 15 per cent hike in salaries for employees of the four transport corporations, the Joint Action Committee has decided to withdraw their protest after a meeting with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Managing Director Anbu Kumar. The protest was scheduled to be held on March 21, said Anantha Subbarao, president of Joint Action Committee.

Addressing a press conference, Subba Rao, “The government hiked salaries by 15 per cent, but there is no clarity on the payment of arrears. We are still not satisfied with the government decision, but we are withdrawing the strike because the government promised of fulfilling all demands”.

“The major demand was that the government has to promise revised salary effective from 1-1-2020. The government notification is not clear”, Subba Rao said.

Anantha Subbarao, president of teh Joint Action Committee.

Following this, the employees of the four state-owned road transport corporations — KSRTC, BMTC, Kalyana Karnataka Transport Corporation and North West Karnataka Transport Corporation — have called off the protest.

Earlier, Subba Rao had said they would go ahead with the strike, but after the meeting with the KSRTC managing director, he changed the decision. However, some transport employees’ unions are opposing Subba Rao’s decision and have called for a strike on March 24.

Like-minded Transport Employees Union president Chandrashekar

The president of a like-minded group of transport employees, Chandrashekar said, “Our demand was not fulfilled in the order issued by the government. There is confusion regarding arrears and salary increase. The Joint Action Committee withdrew the protest without following proper process and it seems they are misleading the employees. I don’t know what Anantha Subba Rao spoke with the government representative. We will wait till the copy of government order comes and we will withdraw the strike only after confirmation and clarity on its promises. Otherwise, there is no question of withdrawing the strike for any reason”.