Road transport corporation staff plan indefinite dharna from March 1

BENGALURU: Employees of the four transport corporations in the state have warned the government that they will go on an indefinite dharna from March 1 to seek fulfillment of their long-pending demands. It is said that about nearly 1.07 lakh road transport employees will participate in the strike.

The state government had promised the state road transport corporation employees during the 2021 strike that it will consider them under 6th Pay Commission. All employees were waiting for this year budget announcements and had  much expectations, but the government disappointed them and their families, according to the transport employees’ federation.

The employees of four corporations — Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KKSRTC) will participate in the strike.

Demands of transport corporation employees

Maintaining previous status of employees who took part in the 2021 protests and addressing other problems of transport employees of all four corporations.

Considering transport corporation employees equal to the government employees and pay salaries as per 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

Government should drop plan to privatise transport organisations.

Chandrashekhar, president of Federation of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees, said, “The ferderation of four corporations has now decided to hold indefinite dharna against the Government on March 1 with their families. We had a lot of expectations from this year’s budget, but we have been left disappointed”.

“If the government does not respond, it should be ready for a 2021 like face-off. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommi, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and then Transport Minister Lakshman Savadi had promised us that the government will consider all transport employees under the 6th Pay Commission, but did not do so. Minister Lakshman Savadi had said that he is committed to fulfilling our demands. Instead of keeping their word, the government just tried to quash our protest. It transferred and dismissed hundreds of employees by booking false FIRs against them”, he charged.

Transport employees’ federation president Chandrashekhar said they will hold indefinite dharna from March 1.

“Though the cases were withdrawn, nothing has been changed even after two years and the situation remains the same. We have made several attempts to draw the attention of the government and now we will go on an indefinite strike from March 1 until we get response from the government”, he added.