Following a series of issues and demands, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to go on a 24-hour strike on Monday. Meanwhile, the KSRTC management and Labour Commissioner has issued a stern warning to invoke in ‘dies non’ clause which means no work no pay, if the employees fail to report at work.
Kerala State Transport Staff Union Calls
The INTUC-affiliated Transport Democratic Federation (TDF) took a call on holding a strike in order to support the demands of workers. Reportedly, the demands include monthly salary getting credited on a timely basis, pay revision, disbursement of the pending allowances and introducing new buses among others.
Though, the KSRTC management and Labour Commissioner had organised a meeting with the TDF leaders on Friday to convince them for not holding the strike but it seems to be futile as the protest is expected to hit the KSRTC services, especially ordinary and city services, on Monday with the union claiming a 30 per cent representation among the staff.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the TDF Union President Thampanoor Ravi said, “Our demands also include the introduction of a health insurance scheme for the staff, implement the driver-cum-conductor system in long haul night services, allotment of ETM (Electronic Ticketing Machines), hike in wages of empanelled employees and recruitment of more staff.”
On the other hand, the KSRTC management and Labour Commissioner has said that they will be clearing off the dues by the end of this month.
An official from KSRTC said, “Such strikes will only hamper revival measures being adopted and cut down revenue collection. We’ll pay all the pending dues this month itself.”
Meanwhile, the LDF union and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh have decided to not to participate in the strike.
