Hyderabad: All Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus services, autorickshaws and cabs would be halted along with other transport services as these labour unions have extended their solidarity to the nationwide labour associations strike on January 8 and 9, 2019, to protest the Central Government’s anti-labour policies.
The TSRTC employees unions have given their strike notice to executive director, Mr M. Ravinder at Bus Bhavan on Monday. The unions have demanded a minimum wage of Rs 24,000 for the transport sector and demand inclusion of petrol and diesel into GST slab. Mr Raji Reddy, General Secretary, TSRTC Employees union, mentioned, “Many Central Government policies benefit only the private sector, like the change of permit rules and others.”
The unions mention that they are against the introduction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the transport sector, as it would lead to the eventual monopoly of the private sector. According to the unions, the bus services would be affected with the strike. Earlier strikes in the year 2015 and 2016 had a severe impact on the transport services.
Few other transport associations such as the four-wheelers association have also extended their solidarity to the strike and some of their demands include making contract workers permanent, equal work and equal pay. Mr Shaik Salauddin, four-wheeler association president said, “All transport unions have extended their total support to this strike. The effect can be seen on January 8.”
