JOIN USSyces go back on strike
In what is turning out to be a seemingly unresolvable problem, talks between the syces and the Bangalore Turf Cub, the KTA and Karnataka Racehorse Owners’ Association broke down yet again on Wednesday, with the stablehands sticking to their demands.
It is learnt that the trainers are willing to increase their salaries to Rs 5,800 a month with a further Rs 100 per day for every extra horse attended to. But the syces, who seem to have no clear leader at the moment, are asking for Rs 12,000 per month along with the immediate resolution of the Provident Fund and Dearness Alowance issues.
“We tried to talk to them and even agreed to the increase in salary which they had demanded,” a senior member of the KTA said.
“But now, they are saying that the salary increase is not enough. Additionally, they are also making various other demands. We are ready to discuss those over a period of time, but they want everything immediately, which is obviously not possible,” he added.
A source in the BTC said the syces problem does not really involve the club and while it was unfortunate, it was up to the trainers to sort out the issue. “We are not really involved in it. The BTC has nothing to do with it. It is the trainers’ responsibility to sort out the matter. But we are ready to help out, if needed, to ensure that racing is not disrupted,” he said.
Syces representative Krishnachari, however, said their demands were perfectly reasonable, and that the trainers and the BTC were looking for excuses to deny them their due.
“There has been no co-operation whatsoever from the BTC. Everyone wants to make us look like the bad guys and put us in an embarassing situation,” Krishnachari said. “Even the DCP who tried to sort out the issue could do nothing because the trainers were not willing to listen.
“We are also due our Dearness Allowance, which is pending for a long time. I don’t think we are asking for too much. It is only what we deserve,” he added.