Transport utility staff plan stir from July 25, bus services may be hit

The KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation (KSWF) on Saturday decided to launch an indefinite strike across the state on July 25 to protest against the ‘meager’ 8% salary hike announced by the state government.

Bus services are likely to be hit as employees of the four state-run transport corporations (RTCs), KSRTC, BMTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC will stay away from work. Around 23,000 buses will be off the roads during the protest.

H V Anantha Subbarao, General Secretary, KSWF, told Deccan Herald that the decision to go on an indefinite strike was taken at the central executive committee meeting of the Federation in the city on Saturday.

The Federation demands 35% hike in the salaries, extension of medical benefits to dependents of employees, hike in daily allowance (bata) for drivers and conductors to Rs 300, an increase in the repast allowance to at least Rs 100 and opening of subsidised canteen in all the depots.

He said Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Noukarara Mahamandali has also extended its support to the protest. A joint strike notice will be issued to the government on Sunday as it is mandatory to give 21-day prior notice under the Industrial Disputes Act.

He criticised the government for its ‘unilateral decision’ on the pay hike and added that  protest will not be withdrawn till their demands were met with.