Karnataka transport employees call off strike after CM assures to fulfil most demands
As per a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO), demands of the protesters to rectify salary differences, compensate employees who died of Covid-19, and action against harassment from senior officials were promised to be fulfilled.
FollowBengaluru: In a major relief to the bus passengers across Karnataka, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has called off their three-day strike that began on Friday following negotiations with the state government on Monday.
As per a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO), demands of the protesters to rectify salary differences, compensate employees who died of Covid-19, and action against harassment from senior officials were promised to be fulfilled.
However, the demand for the consideration of KSRTC staff as government employees was not accepted.
While BMTC operated 314 of the 5,000 buses in Bengaluru, KSRTC operated 565 of the 5,500 buses across the state till 4 pm. Officials said full-fledged operations will commence from Tuesday morning.
On Sunday, negotiations between the protesting employees and the state government representatives collapsed. The failure stemmed from the government’s reluctance to fulfill the employees’ primary demand that they be brought under the government’s payroll.
The protesters were demanding salaries equivalent to the state government employees and compensation similar to the COVID-19 warriors in the event of death due to coronavirus.
According to officials of the KSRTC and the BMTC, these corporations have suffered a loss of about Rs 6 crore in the last three days.
The Yediyurappa-led government in Karnataka has been witnessing back-to-back protests for the past five days since December 8.
