The employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North West Karnataka Transport Corporation and North East Karnataka Transport Corporations have called off their agitation, following the state government's decision to give them a 12.5% hike in salary. This brings an end to Karnataka's three-day transport strike.
The decision was announced by Anantha Subbarao, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) President after a meeting with Transport Minister Ramalinga Ramalinga Reddy and KSRTC MD Rajendra Kumar Kataria, along with union leaders of all the four transport corporations.
"We have agreed to end the strike after the government promised us of 12.5 percent hike and also to look into our other demands," said Subbarao.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Bhaskhar, AITUC General Secretary said, "Initially we had demanded 35% hike but had later decided to agree on a 18% hike. But the government refused this demand and said it can give only 10% hike. However, now both the government and transport unions have agreed upon 12.5% hike in the salary.”
“Along with this demand, the government also has agreed to hold talks on other crucial demands. We hope to get paid for overtime duties, medical benefits for immediate family members, an increase in stitching charges and also internal transfers. The minister has promised to hold talks in this regard and sought three weeks time to work on the modalities with regard to the unions’ demands," he said.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy who addressed a joint press meet, appealed the striking workers to return to work and said, the government will do it’s best to protect the interest of the people and workers.
