TSRTC after talks b/w the Govt & employees

Hyderabad, June 11: In a major relief, The Unions of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) have decided to call off their indefinite strike on Sunday after talks between the employees and the government succeeded.

The strike, which was scheduled to begin on June 11, was withdrawn after Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao approved an increase of 16% in the pay of employees as interim relief, which places a burden of Rs 200 crore on the RTC annually.

After a meeting with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy on Sunday said the union leaders had sought 25 percent IR but keeping in view the finances of the corporation, the government has consented to give 16 percent IR.

The IR would be given to the workers from July, said the minister.

Mahender Reddy said the government had provided financial support of Rs 3,000 crore during the last four years. He further said that the CM has assured to form a committee with experts for taking steps to overcome the losses.

"Last time when the workers asked for 43 percent fitment, the CM announced 44 percent but now the situation of the corporation was not good with loans and losses piling up," said Mahender Reddy. The Palle Velugu buses are in losses and only the long-distance buses were making profits, he said.

Finance Minister E Rajender said that even though the corporation was in losses to the tune of Rs 750 crore, the government gave 44 percent fitment to the RTC workers last time. The CM knows the transport department because he had handled the department earlier as a minister.