Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123154850800.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Transport corporation staff to go on strike

Staff Reporter

Fulfil demands by January 14, says samithi
They pertain to wages and working conditions

Bangalore: The employees of the four State Road Transport Corporations have threatened to go on strike on January 19, and have given notice to the managements of the to settle all demands.

On Monday, the Karnataka Rajya Rasthe Saarige Nigamagala Karmikara Aikyatha Horata Samithi, the umbrella organisation for seven unions, said that its 38 demands, mostly pertaining to wages and working conditions, should be met by January 14.

The samithi represents 90,000 employees of the four State Road Transport Corporations, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation.

According to the samithi, the six per cent wage hike effected for road transport employees is less in comparison with the increment of the employees of Union and State governments and public sector undertakings.

As per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the salaries of employees of the Union Government are being increased by 21.5 per cent, those of State Government by 17.5 per cent, Central public sector undertakings by more than 90 per cent, and the University Grants Commission by 70 per cent.

The samithi said that the Chief Minister had agreed to increase the salaries of State Government employees on par with Union Government employees, but the employees of transport corporations in the State are yet to see the promise become a reality.

Though the samithi had requested the Minister concerned to effect at least 30 per cent hike in salaries by December 15, there has been no response from him.

Another demand was the abolition of the trainee system, which the samithi termed as “inhuman and highly exploitative”.

It said: “Upon joining service, employees are designated as ‘trainees’ for a two-year period during which they are paid only Rs. 2,500, less than one-third of the amount paid to regular employees in the same position. The training is also often extended by one or two years.”

About 30,000 employees (one-third of the workforce) are employed this manner, it said and alleged that the corporations save at least Rs. 120 crore annually. The samithi also alleged that the employees are regularly harassed by the imposition of “unjust” fines in some form or another.