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Kerala: Travellers bear the brunt as KSRTC bus services hit with employees on strike demanding pay revision

Meanwhile, following the strike, the Kerala University has postponed all theory, practical and entrance exams scheduled for Friday. The new dates will be announced later.

Kerala Travellers bear the brunt as KSRTC bus services hit with employees on strike demanding pay revision-dnm
Author
Thiruvananthapuram, First Published Nov 5, 2021, 3:43 PM IST

Bus passengers are facing the brunt as The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services are disrupted across the state following a strike by employees’ unions over various demands including pay revision. Long-distance travellers who rely on the public transporter are the worst hit and passengers in southern districts were particularly hit as the two-day strike began on Friday morning.

The trade unions called the strike for 48 hours after they disregarded Transport Minister Antony Raju's request to call it off. Meanwhile, police have arranged alternative transport for commuters to hospitals, airport and railway station in Thiruvananthapuram.

According to the union, their pay has not been revised since the past nine years, even though KSTRC has over 35,000 employees. The union alleges that though the Chief Minister had apparently promised a revision this year and the changes should have been made by June, nothing has been implemented till now.

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As 5,000 KSRTC buses are on strike, scores of people were seen stranded at the various bus depots, especially in Kerala's southern regions. The halted bus services have mostly affected the southern regions of Kerala as it is mostly dependent on state-run transport and the KSRTC buses cover nearly 16 kilometres every day.

Meanwhile, following the strike, the Kerala University has postponed all theory, practical and entrance exams scheduled for Friday. The new dates will be announced later.

The buses are expected to completely stay off the roads till November 5 midnight as the Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA) affiliated to the CITU and BMS-affiliated Kerala State Transport Employees Sangh (KSTES) have called a 24-hour strike. Also, with the INTUC-affiliated Transport Democratic Federation (TDF) and the union affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) calling for a 48-hour strike, the services could be disrupted partially on November 6 too.

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