While striking employees brought state transport services to a near halt on Thursday, the state government refused to buckle under pressure and dismissed their demand for a bigger pay hike. It also threatened to use the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to book cases against drivers and conductors who stayed off work. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with top officers of the KSRTC, BMTC and transport department, Deputy Chief Minister, R. Ashok ruled out any further hike in the salaries of bus drivers and conductors, saying they had already been increased by 18 to 19 per cent across the board. “The BMTC staff got a 23 per cent salary hike but it wants a 30 per cent increase now,” he deplored, describing the strike as “inhuman” considering the inconvenience caused to commuters around the state.
“We have already increased salaries of conductors and drivers by Rs 4000 to Rs 7000, and given them a Rs 2000 allowances for the Ganesha festival. KSRTC and BMTC drivers and conductors are the highest paid in South India, but they still want more when the state is in the grip of a severe drought. If we accept their demands, it will be an additional burden on the public," he said.
While the government was ready to talks with the unions, this was not possible as the KSRTC did not have any recognised union at present, according to him. “The labour union which called the strike is not recognised. So we have decided not to consider its unjustified demands,” Mr Ashok asserted in reply to a question, adding that the transport department was trying to use private buses and maxi cabs in place of the BMTC buses. “Alternative arrangements have been made using maxi cabs and private buses. And we have requested the maxi cab operators and auto drivers not to fleece their passengers,” he said.