Bengaluru: More than one lakh employees of state-owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will launch an indefinite strike from this midnight to press for their demand of hike in salary.
As many as 23,000 buses of KSRTC will stay off the roads, including in Bengaluru, and a total of 1.23 lakh employees will join the strike, KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation general secretary HV Anantha Subbarao said today.
"The employees of public transport system - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation - will go on an indefinite strike from midnight. They are demanding a salary hike," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
The decision comes in the wake of a stalemate in the talks between the government and the federation.
The employees are demanding a 35 per cent hike in salary, while the government was ready for 10 per cent increase.
"The 30 per cent hike in salaries will burden the state exchequer by Rs 4,550 crore. We are ready for 10 per cent hike," Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.
He argued that the salaries drawn by KSRTC employees were higher compared to their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra.
Asked whether the government would invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking employees, Mr Reddy said the government did not want to use this provision, but was ready to negotiate with the federation to solve the issue.
"We are ready to negiotiate with the federation to find solution for the issue. We do not want to invoke ESMA," he said.
Replying to another question, Mr Reddy said the government would make alternative arrangements by giving temporary contract carriage to private operators during the strike.
The government has declared two-day holiday for schools because of the strike.
Subbrao said if the government invoked ESMA, the employees would be ready to court arrest. "Our families will come out and support the strike," he said.
Commuters in September 2012 had faced severe difficulties across the state when KSRTC employees struck work for three days.
As many as 23,000 buses of KSRTC will stay off the roads, including in Bengaluru, and a total of 1.23 lakh employees will join the strike, KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation general secretary HV Anantha Subbarao said today.
"The employees of public transport system - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation - will go on an indefinite strike from midnight. They are demanding a salary hike," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
The employees are demanding a 35 per cent hike in salary, while the government was ready for 10 per cent increase.
Advertisement
He argued that the salaries drawn by KSRTC employees were higher compared to their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra.
Advertisement
"We are ready to negiotiate with the federation to find solution for the issue. We do not want to invoke ESMA," he said.
Advertisement
The government has declared two-day holiday for schools because of the strike.
Advertisement
Commuters in September 2012 had faced severe difficulties across the state when KSRTC employees struck work for three days.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Tamil Nadu Transport Workers Declare Indefinite Strike Amid Pongal Rush Delhi: App-Based Taxi Drivers' Strike To Demand CNG Subsidy, Fare Hike Enters 2nd Day Maharashtra Bus Employees Strike: Only 7,000 Of 92,000 Staffers Attend Work Congress To Win Haryana, Hung House In J&K: Poll Of Exit Polls Drugs Worth Over Rs 1,800 Crore Seized From Factory Near Bhopal, 2 Arrested Dinner With Kim Jong Un Or George Soros? S Jaishankar Was Asked. His Reply Drugs Worth Over Rs 1,800 Crore Seized From Factory Near Bhopal, 2 Arrested Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi Celebrate Son's Birthday With Spider-Man Theme Cake Ancient DNA Uncovers The Genetic Background Of Japanese People: Study Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.