Karnataka RTC staff to go on strike from August 5; bus services likely to be hit

Bengaluru: Government bus services in Karnataka may be affected next month as Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees' unions have announced an indefinite strike from August 5 to protest the state government's "failure" to fulfill their long-pending demands.

The Joint Action Committee of the Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation gave a notice to the government on Wednesday, notifying its decision to go on an indefinite strike from 6 am, August 5, 2025. Section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, requires employees to provide notice before strike.

The committee, composed of six RTC employees' unions, has been pushing for the payment of Rs 1,785 crore for 38 months (January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023), and a 25% pay hike with effect from January 1, 2024.

The committee has pointed out that the RTCs’ financial condition has stabilised after bus fares were increased by 15% on January 6, 2025.

On July 4 this year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held talks with the committee representatives but no conclusive decision was taken.

Vijaya Bhaskar D A, general secretary of the KSRTC Staff And Workers’ Federation, had told DH that the meeting — originally scheduled for April 15 — ended on a “negative” note.

"The CM insisted that the promise on arrears payment was made by the previous government and that the current dispensation was not obligated to honour it. There was no discussion on pay hike. But for us, both issues are non-negotiable,” he had said.