Telangana RTC Employees to Launch Statewide Strike from April 22
In a significant development, employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) have declared a statewide strike set to commence on April 22. This decision was announced by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which represents the workforce, following what they describe as a lack of response from both the government and RTC management to a strike notice issued on March 13.
Key Demands Driving the Strike Action
JAC general secretary Thomas Reddy outlined that the employees have submitted a comprehensive list of 32 demands. The primary issues at the forefront include:
- Merger of RTC with the state government to ensure job security and parity with government employees.
- Conducting labour union elections to address representation and governance within the corporation.
- Implementation of long-pending wage revisions and clearance of dues such as provident fund contributions and Credit Cooperative Society payments.
The employees are adamant that their salaries and benefits must be aligned with those of government staff, citing prolonged neglect of these critical matters.
Potential Impact on Public Transport
The proposed strike is anticipated to severely disrupt public transportation across Telangana. With more than 6,000 buses likely to be taken off the roads, over 60 lakh passengers who depend daily on RTC services could face significant inconveniences. This move underscores the vital role of RTC in the state's mobility infrastructure.
Government Response and Ongoing Discussions
In response, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has appealed to the employees to reconsider the strike. He highlighted that the issue of merging TSRTC with the government is currently under review by a dedicated committee. The minister assured that the government is open to discussing most of the demands, with only two unresolved matters remaining, and emphasized a commitment to addressing employee concerns.
Prabhakar further noted that pending Dearness Allowance (DA) has already been released, and discussions regarding the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) are actively ongoing. However, employees remain skeptical, insisting that the government must fulfill promises made during the election period, which include job security, wage revisions, and the procurement of electric buses for the RTC.
Historical Context and Escalation
This strike follows a similar action last year in May, which was postponed after the government agreed to form a three-member IAS committee to examine the demands. With no resolution achieved since then, employees have decided to proceed with the strike, warning of widespread disruption if their concerns are not promptly addressed. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the workforce and authorities over labor rights and corporate governance in Telangana's transport sector.
