TSRTC strike called off

Hyderabad: The Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) on Sunday withdrew its strike call after the state government announced 16 per cent interim relief (IR) to the RTC workers, which places a burden of Rs 200 crore on the RTC annually.

While the TMU has withdrawn the call, the other unions have decided to continue their protest in various forms of agitations. The National Mazdoor Union (NMU) has decided to protest with black badges, while the RTC JAC has decided to organise gate meetings protesting the attitude of the government and the TMU.  

After a meeting with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy on Sunday said the union leaders had sought 25 per cent IR but keeping in view the finances of the corporation, the government has consented to give 16 per cent IR. The IR would be given to the workers from July, said the minister. The additional burden on the corporation would be Rs 16 crore per month. 

The government has agreed to form a committee to look into the issues such as ways and means to bring the corporation into profits. The sub-committee members had discussions with the recognised union Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) leaders and announced the decision.

Mahender Reddy said the government had provided financial support of Rs 3,000 crore during the last four years. He further said that the CM has assured to form a committee with experts for taking steps to overcome the losses.

“Last time when the workers asked for 43 per cent fitment, the CM announced 44 per cent but now the situation of the corporation was not good with loans and losses piling up,” said Mahender Reddy. The Palle Velugu buses are in losses and only the long-distance buses were making profits, he said.    

Finance Minister E Rajender said that even though the corporation was in losses to the tune of Rs 750 crore, the government gave 44 per cent fitment to the RTC workers last time. The CM knows the transport department because he had handled the department earlier as minister.

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao said the CM was in forefront to safeguard the public sector companies and the biggest example was the power plant contracts worth Rs 6,000 Crore to BHEL. Even though the corporation was in losses the chief minister has agreed to give 16 per cent IR. By the time fitment is announced, the corporation should be able to get good revenues, he said. 

The committee to be formed by the government would suggest how state govt can give relaxations on the taxes, how to give support, to bring in profits. He said that the suspensions of employees on petty issues would also be addressed by the committee. He said that the CM had directed the officials to release the salary pertaining to strike period of Sakalajanula Samme. The CM was angry as to why the salary was not given even after issuing orders, he said. 

Stating that this was only IR, TMU leader E Ashwadhama Reddy said that they have confidence that the government would provide fitment soon. He also said the CM would make a statement on taxes on the corporation. He welcomed the decision to provide cash payments for Sakalajanula Samme. He said that they were calling off strike with confidence on the CM.