Karnataka: Transport Employees’ Strike Suspended After Court’s Intervention
RTC unions halt strike, but demands like wage revision and arrears still stand
Bengaluru: As per the order of the Karnataka High Court, the Joint Action Committee of Road Transport Corporation Workers’ Union on Tuesday announced the suspension of its strike and asked all employees to report to work with immediate effect..
The Joint Action Committee had called for a strike from 6 am on Tuesday across the four road transport corporations — Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, North West Road Transport Corporation, Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation. In its response, the state government had invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) from July 1 to December 31.
Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Joint Action Committee president Anant Subbarao said that the strike had been suspended following the intervention of the High Court.
He, however, asserted that the demands of the Joint Action Committee remain unchanged and that they would continue to press the state government for their demands, including the settlement of 38 months' salary arrears and wage revision, among others.
“We will not settle for the state government’s offer to clear only 14 months of salary arrears for transport employees,” Rao said, adding, “We have suspended the strike since the High Court directed us to do so.”
Regarding the future course of action, he said, “It all depends on how the State Government responds to our demands.” Earlier in the day, due to the suspension of bus services across the state, passengers were stranded at various bus termini.
