Hyderabad: The APSRTC strike will enter its seventh day on Tuesday with all attempts to break the deadlock between the unions and the RTC management failing on Monday too.
The Cabinet sub-committee held several meetings throughout the day to chalk out a strategy and postponed the meeting with the unions to Tuesday. Meanwhile, RTC employees continued their demand for immediate bifurcation of the corporation and a 43 per cent fitment in basic salary.
As per RTC authorities, 64.6 per cent of scheduled services in AP and 38 per cent across Telangana could be operated on the sixth day of the strike. Also, 45 per cent of scheduled services could be operated in the twin cities.
On Monday, the Cabinet sub-committee comprising ministers P. Mahender Reddy (transport), Etala Rajender (finance) and Nayani Narsimha Reddy (home and labour) met TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao twice, trying to work out a strategy to break the deadlock between the management and the unions and get buses back on the road.
The CM inducted two more ministers, Talasani Srinivas Yadav (commercial taxes) and G. Jagadheeswar Reddy (power) into the sub-committee, after holding a review meeting.
The sub-committee slotted a late evening meeting aimed at coming up with proposals based on which they could call the union leaders for a second round of talks on Tuesday morning.
The Telangana Mazdoor Union, meanwhile, is adamant on their demand of 43 per cent fitment. The management on the AP side has meanwhile adopted a wait and watch approach.
“Considering the financial condition of the Corporation, the union had lowered its demand to 43 per cent and now we are constant at 43 per cent. Even at 43 per cent fitment, there is a sizeable gap between the basic pay – about Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 between central government drivers and those of the RTC,” said TMU general secretary, Ashwathama Reddy.
