K’taka RTC workers decide to continue stir after govt says talks ‘successful’

Bengaluru: Striking road transport corporations (RTCs) workers in Karnataka on Sunday said they will continue with their agitation, shortly after the government announced that an agreement has been reached between both sides to resume bus services, as it has conceded to most of their demands.

With the public transport buses not operating for the third day, the government held a series of meetings today with representatives of the workers union, at the end of which it came across that talks have been fruitful, but it was short-lived, as union representatives announced that they will continue with strike.

Soon after negotiations ended this evening, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi in the presence of workers union representatives told reporters, ”the strike that had been going on for three days has come to end. We have spoken to members of the trade union, those who had announced the strike, both sides have come to an agreement.”

Listing out the demands that the government has agreed to, in response to a question about workers’ demand to be treated as government employees, he said there are 30-40 corporations with a similar demand, and it has been clearly communicated to them that it cannot be done.

Workers union representative Chandru too, flanked by Savadi, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Revenue Minister R Ashoka thanking the Ministers said they are of the feeling that their demands have been met to an extent and he would announce the decision regarding the strike at the venue where workers are protesting.

”… it (announcement) will be positive… negotiations have been held in a cordial way,” he said, stating that the government has also agreed to positively look into their demand to be treated as government employees, even as Savadi standing next to him did not concur with it.

Minutes later on reaching the protest venue, Chandru said the government should call for another round of talks, and called upon workers not to start operating buses in a hurry.

”… don’t hurry, let’s see if there is another round of talks,” he said.

His appeal to RTC workers came amid reports about buses resuming operation in some parts of the State, following the government’s announcement about talks being successful.

Farmers’ leader Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, who has now emerged as the leader of the RTC workers announced, ”our agitation will continue tomorrow and this information has to reach every corner of the state.”

He even claimed that private bus operator’s union leaders have also come in their support and have decided not to operate private buses tomorrow.

This even as the government was exploring the option of deploying private bus operators to see to that hardship faced by commuters is minimised until the issue is resolved.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a statement said though the employees association leaders agreed in the meeting and said they would announce the same in the freedom park, they are creating unnecessary confusion, by joining hands with Kodihalli Chandrashekhar.

”It is not appropriate for Kodihalli Chandrashekhar to mislead the employees and his malafide intentions are condemnable,” he said.

The CM has also expressed concerns over the inconveniences caused to the public and the loss and problems caused to the corporations and its employees, the CMO statement said, ”in this wake, he has called upon the employees to end their strike and join for duty.”

Noting that a sincere effort was made to resolve problems of RTC staff in today’s meeting, he said except the condition to consider staff as government employees, other demands such as rectifying salary differences, Rs 30 lakh ex-gratia to the employees who died of COVID-19, action to avoid harassment from senior officials were promised to be fulfilled.

With public transport services coming to a grinding halt across the State, lakhs of commuters, who depend on buses for their daily commute are hit.