Thiruvananthapuram, June 6 (BPNS)
The indefinite strike announced by the transport unions, including CITU, to protest against the uncertainty in salary distribution to the KSRTC employees in front of the chief’s office begins today. The unions decided to go ahead with the strike, without disrupting the bus services, after the management violated the agreement to pay wages by the fifth of every month.
The KSRTC management had informed the union leaders that they would not be able to pay their salaries before the 20th of this month, after which the unions intensified their protest citing poor pay and mismanagement. The pro-government organization CITU will go on a sit-in-agitation from today in front of the Transport Bhavan and will be inaugurated by the senior CPI(M) leader, Anathalavattom Anandan.
The opposition leader, V.D Satheesan, will inaugurate the day and strike of INTUC, before the CMD office. BMS, another transport union, will start an indefinite strike in front of the Secretariat and KSRTC district headquarters from tomorrow, while the AITUC will hold conventions from tomorrow. The management has stated that salaries will not be paid until 20th of this month, as it lacked the government’s financial assistance. The three recognized unions boycotted a meeting called by the KSRTC Chief Managing Director, Biju Prabhakar, last week in connection with the delay of salary disbursement.
Although the KSRTC revenue for May was Rs 193 crore, it was drained by the time the last overdraft, loan and diesel were paid off. Salary distribution would not be possible without government assistance as Rs. 46 crore overdraft and Rs. 92.21 crore for diesel and Rs. 82 crore is required for the management. The chief had written to the government two weeks ago seeking Rs 65 crore but had not received a reply.
