Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 3: The joint action committee (JAC) of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations’ workers’ unions has called for an indefinite statewide strike starting May 20. As a result, KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC bus services are likely to come to a halt from 6 am on that day.

The decision was taken following the failure of recent talks between transport union leaders and transport minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Jyothi Ananthasubba Rao, president of the KSRTC staff and workers’ federation, announced the protest. She stated that the unions had demanded a 25% salary hike effective from January 2024.

"We requested the minister to implement the wage revision within the stipulated time. However, the government is only offering a 7% increase effective from April 1, 2025. This is unacceptable to the workers," Ananthasubba Rao said.

The union leaders warned that the state government would be held entirely responsible for any inconvenience caused to the general public. "We have appealed to the government several times, but to no avail. If the public faces trouble, the responsibility lies with the government's negligence and not the workers," members of the JAC added.

Prominent union leaders present at the press conference included DA Vijay Bhaskar, general secretary of the KSRTC staff and workers’ federation, B Jayadevaraje Urs, general secretary of the Akhila Karnataka State Road Transport Employees’ Federation, and HD Revappa.

Major demands of the unions:

Wage arrears: Payment of Rs 1,272 crore in arrears related to a 26-month period in a single instalment.

Allowance hike: Immediate increase in grocery allowances and other benefits.

Covid compensation: Immediate release of promised compensation to the families of employees who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Policy disputes: Resolution of administrative issues, including ‘Form-4,’ through discussions with the JAC within one month.