Bengaluru: Nearly 15,000 buses stopped their services across Karnataka on Wednesday as 1.2 lakh corporation employees started their strike. The strike began as a result of the government’s refusal to increase their salaries in line with the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.
Despite the government’s threat to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma), employees from four corporations including KSRTC and BMTC continued the strike. Out of KSRTC’s 5,500 buses, only 264 ran on the roads. In Bengaluru, BMTC could run only 145 buses between 6am and 6pm.
Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa appealed to the drivers in the strike to reach the negotiating table. He said, “We’ve fulfilled eight of their nine demands. Despite this, they have stopped buses, creating trouble for the public. I appeal to them: ” Get back to work so that we can sit and talk”.”
R Chandrashekhar of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees’ League stated, “The government is turning a blind eye to the genuine demands of employees. The transport minister is busy with election campaigns. Our major demands are wages as per the 6th Pay Commission which is not fulfilled by the government. Hence, we decided to go ahead with the strike. None of the buses will be operational on Thursday as well.”
Discussion about this post