THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC will restructure the duty pattern of drivers and conductors on the lines of the mechanics in view of the severe financial restrains. The KSRTC had earlier abolished the double duty of the mechanical staff. The single duty is 6.5 hours and double duty 13 hours. Now, the drivers and the conductors in long route services were taking double duties since their working hours in a single schedule came to 13 to 18 hours.
CPI affiliated KSRT Employees Union (KSRTEU) General Secretary M G Rahul told Deccan Chronicle that such double duties had been changed into one and half duty or single duty and three duties into two duties and so on. The managements which failed to come up with new revenue generation ideas or cut down unwanted costs are now coming up with easier options. That is to cut to down the benefits due to employees.
This would also ensure that the more empanelled employees would become excess. They can be dismissed from service,said Mr Rahul said. KSRTEU and Kerala State Transport Employees Sangh (KSTES) have announced a strike on Wednesday over the delay in disbursing salary and pension and the introduction of new duty pattern. KSRTC MD M G Rajamanickam in a letter to the employees said that the new duty pattern were not a permanent mechanism. The old duty pattern would be reintroduced after the finances are improved, Mr Rajamanickam said.
