The state-wide indefinite bus strike beginning Thursday morning could see thousands of bus passengers stranded as over one lakh drivers, conductors and other staff of the four road transport corporations are expected to stay off work, dissatisfied with the pay hike they have received this year.
“Around 1,10,000 drivers, conductors and mechanics have called for the indefinite strike and listed 41 demands which have been submitted to the labour commission. The employees' unions are against the unilateral decision of the government to increase their pay by 10 per cent of their basic salaries as they want it to be based on their years of experience and accident records,” said President of the Akhil Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Naurkarara Mahamandala, K.S. Sharma.
He regretted that the 33,000 trainees working for the transport corporations, drew a mere Rs. 4,000 a month as salary although they did as much work as the other staff who drew Rs. 15,000 a month.No talks were held between the transport authorities and the unions even after they submitted their 41 “legitimate demands,” to the principal secretary for transport, giving him time till September 10 to respond. The decision to go on strike was taken after the deadline was ignored and they received no response. Transport officers, for their part, claimed
the salary of the staff of the four corporations , including the BMTC, in the state, was revised once in four years , and they were paid better than employees of other state road transport corporations.