JAC leaders offer to resign with a rider

Hyderabad: Even as a section of workers are demanding the resignation of JAC convenor Ashwathama Reddy, the TSRTC union leaders are willing to resign so that the government continues the Corporation in its present form.

After 52 days of strike and 57 days of uncertainty, the workers are seemed to be divided as a section has been demanding the resignation of Ashwathama Reddy alleging that he was responsible for the present situation in the Corporation.

The union leaders have been on the target of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who on several occasions said that they were misleading the workers.

At one point, the chief minister had said that the workers and officials were good but the RTC union leaders were misleading the staff by bringing up meaningless demands.

Recently, the workers in Warangal had taken up protest demanding resignation of Ashwathama Reddy. NMU Warangal region secretary Ch Yaka Swamy said that the JAC convenor should tender resignation for failing to resolve the RTC workers' issues.

He said that as a leader when he took the workers into the strike, he has the responsibility to ensure the workers join duties after calling off the strike. The JAC convenor could not get a favourable decision even after leaving the merger demand, opined Swamy.

As they were cornered by the workers, the JAC leaders have decided to resign so that the government can continue the Corporation in its present form.

This issue is said to have come in the meeting of the JAC leaders. Sources said that the JAC leaders have offered to resign if it benefits the workers and the Corporation is saved.

"It is not proper to harass the workers, who have decided to join duties after calling off the strike. We are ready to resign, and the government should continue the RTC in its old form," said a JAC leader in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the workers approached the Labour Commissioner and complained that the management was not accepting workers even after calling off the strike.

JAC co-convenor Thomas Reddy said that 57 days have gone by but there is no response from the government either on the demands or on taking back the employees, who are willing to join duties.

"We came to Labour Commissioner's office requesting him to provide us salaries and also direct the management to take back the employees," said Thomas. He opposed the VRS or CRS proposal of the government.

"The government should either provide autonomy or run the Corporation. It should not look at RTC from profit and loss perspective as it is a doing service to the poor," said JAC co-convenor.