TSRTC strike latest news (Hyderabad): The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees will go on an indefinite strike from October 5 (Saturday) to press for their demands. As per the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of several employee unions, the decision to go on strike was taken due to the "unhelpful attitude" of the Telangana government in resolving the unsettled matter even after being given the strike notice.
The unions allege representing around one lakh employees, half of them working on a contract basis.
Notably, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) officials are trying to hire private bus owners and drivers, so that the common man does not face any difficulties in traveling. The Telangana government has, meanwhile, threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the RTC staff, if they go ahead with the strike tomorrow.JAC leader ashwathama Reddy has asked the employees not to be scared by the government's threats to invoke ESMA. "ESMA and PD Act (Preventive Detention Act) is not new for all RTC employees," he said.
TSRTC bus strike the latest news: Here are the TSRTC employees’ demands
The unions are demanding merger of the TSRTC with the government. The demand followed the merging of the loss-making Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) with the government in the neighboring state in September. It was in 2013 when the proposal to merge the APSRTC with the government was thought out in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh. Last month, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS jagan Mohan Reddy had fulfilled his poll promise by Okaying the merger of the APSRTC with the government. The TSRTC employees’ unions want the government to pay dues, revise the pay structure, and job security. They are also demanding filling up of vacancies.
The unions demanded an increase in the bus fleet. Citing huge work pressure on the employees as they were being pressurized to do "double duty", the union leaders said that not even a single new employee was hired in the TSRTC during the last five (5) years. Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) general secretary ashwathama Reddy has urged the government to fulfill the promises made by a cabinet sub-committee in 2018. He claimed that the government is not even discussing their issues.
The union leaders said the government would have to shoulder the blame for the difficulties to be faced by people because of the TSRTC strike during the dussehra holidays. They also said that the Telangana government has not paid dues running up to Rs 1,000 crore to the TSRTC. As per them, the losses of the corporation increased to Rs 3,380 crore.
