Campaign hots up for APRTC recognised union elections

Tirupati: The election campaign for the recognised union status in RTC reached feverish pitch with main contenders NMU (National Mazdoor Union) and the Employees Union and its allies stepping up their campaign to win the election.

Unlike the previous election held in 2016 in  which NMU registered victory, four unions – Employees Union (AITUC affiliated), Staff and Workers Federation (SWF) (CITU), Karmika Parishad (TNTUC ) and YSR RTC Mazdoor Union joined together and are jointly fighting against NMU.

There are about 54,000 voters and the election is scheduled on August 9.  Interestingly, both the contenders are brimming with confidence on winning the election. 

Employees’ Union deputy general secretary Avula Prabhakar said this time the NMU defeat is imminent as all the other four unions in RTC were fighting jointly. Further the employees are sore at NMU for its miserable performance, he added.

He said the four-union combine shared the district union status among themselves while for the State-level recognised union status was left to EU which is contesting with the support of other unions. Accordingly, Guntur and Ongole were given to Karmika Parishad, West Godavari and Nellore to SWF, Kadapa to YSR RTC Mazdoor Union and the remaining districts to EU. 

“This was to ensure the four-union combine wins both the State and district level recognised union status,’’ he said while speaking to the media here on Friday. Prabhakar claimed that the Karmika Parishad affiliated to TNTUC, the labour wing of ruling TDP, is also with EU despite Transport Minister Atchannaidu openly asking the employees to vote for NMU while speaking at an official function recently held in the pilgrim city.

He along with other leaders including Karmika Parishad district secretary G Ravi, Office Staff Welfare Association (OSWA) state general secretary V Siva Prasad and SWF zonal secretary K Parasuram told mediapersons that they would also complain to the Chief Minister against Minister Atchannaidu for violating norms and asking the employees to vote for a particular union without caring for his official position.

Prabhakar and other leaders said that last time NMU won the election with a slender majority of 730 because of the multi-cornered contest. This time the NMU is no match to the combined strength of the four unions, they said.

However, NMU state secretary B Surendrababu said that the NMU will retain its position as the employees are with it. The NMU did more than what it had promised in 2016 election, he said adding that the majority employees have confidence on NMU.

Claiming that a section of Karmika Parishad and also YSR RTC Mazdoor Union were supporting NMU in the election, he defended Atchannaidu. He said the Minister had supported NMU based on its performance.