KOZHIKODE: The KSRTC is undergoing a transformation under the leadership of Mr M.G. Rajamanickam, managing director and chairman, who has been entrusted with the task of reviving the ailing corporation. The trade unionism that once ruled the roost in KSRTC is a thing of the past. Steps like massive changes in working patterns by cutting down many privileges of employees, reducing work force by expelling contract employees, redeploying the work force and mass transfer to silence the defiant have shaken the employees. Old timers say that a section of union leaders had played a key role in converting the KSRTC into a cash-strapped entity. Some leaders had received kickbacks in the purchase of buses and spareparts. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had agreed to give a free hand to 'MGR' to breathe fresh life into the sinking corporation. Whenever the TUs oppose a move of 'MGR,' the CM himself ensures him freedom.
According to a preliminary report submitted by Prof Sushil Khanna in 2016, the IIM expert from Kolkata roped in by the KSRTC for a revival package, the corporation with its 39,000-odd staff including 9,800 contract staff (m-panel), has 6,000 excess employees. Over 600 persons from mechanical section alone were sacked in the recent past. Union leaders say that m-panel employees are sacked without any orders. The employee is informed through the notice board that his/her job is over. Regional workshops at Thiruvananthapuram, Aluva, Edappal and Kozhikode were dismantled. There will not be any bus body-making in these workshops. Sources said that moves were on to hand over a few workshops to companies like Scania that run superluxury services. Instead of buying buses, the KSRTC would hire the vehicles with drivers and their repair would be undertaken by the mechanics of the same company.
The administration is being restructured. All the executive directors heading departments like finance, mechanical, administration and law would be replaced this month with 11 professionals armed with post- graduation in management, M Tech, law and other streams along with experience. Orders were already issued to end the system of countless Assistant Transport Officers and 28 District Transport Officers appointed in districts causing a drain to the kitty. Instead, 15 officials who had undergone administrative training at the 'Central Institute of Road Transport' will take over reins. In between, more than 2,000 ticket examiners have been redeployed to ensure maximum output. The most important in the series of changes was the rescheduling of work pattern for conductors and drivers who were enjoying the benefits of double duty which ensured sufficient resting time for them. Earlier, a full day duty (16 hours) ensured them one day off. From this decision, the KSRTC saved 5,000 duties per day, claims the management.
Striking staff slapped with transfer orders
The KSRTC management on Thursday transferred the members of the AITUC-affiliated KSRT Employees Union (KSRTEU) and BMS-affiliated Kerala State Transport Employees Sangh (KSTES), who observed a strike on Wednesday against the new work pattern and the failure to disburse salaries. A total of 137 drivers and 129 conductors of Ernakulam, Kottarakara and Karunagapally depots and the vehicle supervisor of the Karunagapally depot were transferred.
The strike did not have a major impact as the CITU and INTUC unions, which have majority in the KSRTC, did not take part in the strike. KSRTEU general secretary M.G. Rahul told Deccan Chronicle that the general body of the union on Friday would take a final decision on the further course of action. The union planned an indefinite strike against the anti-democratic approach of the management, Mr Rahul said. The management argued that there was an unwritten understanding with the employees that they would not go on strike still the finances of the KSRTC improved. However, the unions have alleged that the transfer was victimisation by the KSRTC management as they had given prior notice for the strike.
Employees flay autocratic rule
The reforms in the KSRTC have triggered protests with a few trade unions alleging that an autocratic rule has been imposed on the corporation. Interestingly, the KSRTC Employees' Association affiliated to the CITU, the TU arm of CPM, which holds the membership of 48 per cent of employees, and INTUC-controlled Transport Democratic Federation (27 percent) of the Congress, are supporting the reforms. The Transport Employees Union affiliated to AITUC, the TU arm of the CPI, is heading the voices of dissent along with other splinter groups.
Rather than the reforms, the workers are worried more about the mass transfers. Recently 39 drivers from the northern zone based at Kozhikode were transferred to Parassala, the extreme tip of the state in Thiruvananthapuram district. Among the drivers, 13 were from Kasargod and nine from Kannur districts. The same number of employees from Thiruvananthapruam also was transferred to north zone. The transfer orders are issued at odd hours and land on Fridays ahead of a second Saturday to prevent the employees from seeking any legal remedies, allege TU leaders.
If the targeted employee belongs to the m-panel category, he is not even served an individual intimation, but the order removing him from the employee list or transferring him from the unit would be pasted on the common notice board. Transport Employees' Union (AITUC) state general-secretary Rahul M.G. told DC that many of the m-panel employees were serving the corporation for more than a decade. "They had sacrificed the best time of their life for the corporation hoping that one day they would be regularized. But now not only the m-panel employees but also the regular employees are under fear of losing their jobs," he added. The employees lamented that they were working in pitiable condition in workshops sans any modern hydraulic equipment. "Our equipment are mere scraps. A modern tyre changer and other basic equipment are yet to be purchased. With these crude instruments we were forced to work on ultra-modern buses like Scania. Then they complain that we lack apt workmanship," said an employee.
