Transport Corporations Workers Strike Called Off in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The three-day old indefinite strike by employees of four Karnataka Road Transport Corporations, that had hit normal life across the state, was called off on Wednesday after the government agreed to increase their salary by 12.5 per cent.

With no headway and buses staying off the roads, union leaders and Management of road transport corporations on Wednesday met for negotiation with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

After prolonged negotiations from morning till evening, Managing Director of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Rajendra Kumar Kataria along with Union Leaders jointly announced that they have been able bring an end to the deadlock.

More than one lakh employees' of transport corporations were on strike since Sunday midnight with about 41 demands, prominent among them being a 35 per cent wage hike, while government had earlier offered 10 per cent increase.

"We have come to a decision to give 12.5 per cent hike on gross salary that means 12.5 per cent including salary and allowance. Unions have also agreed for this," Kataria told reporters. "On other demands we will sort it out at the earliest," he said.

Stating that buses have already started resuming services, he said "they will successfully start now. Tomorrow all the schools and colleges will open and kids will go to schools."

Schools and colleges in most parts of the state had remained shut for the third day today due to strike. KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation General Secretaryand All India Trade Union Congress leader H V Anantha Subbarao said major contention was on wage issue.

"We have come to a negotiation of 12.5 per cent, we would have been happier if it was 15 per cent, 12.5 per cent is fine. Minister has said other issues will also be resolved in 20 days," he said.

The unions had also requested government not to take any disciplinary action against employees and those suspended have to be taken back, he said, adding unions have also apologised to the public for the inconvenience caused to the public because of the strike.

As the deadlock ended, partial resumption in services was seen in several parts of the state in the evening hours. Officials said service will resume in full swing tomorrow morning.

With state transport buses completely staying off the roads since Sunday mid night, public were seen depending on private and own vehicles for commuting. In Bengaluru, cabs andautorickshaws were on high demand and Metro services are running packed.