TGSRTC employees give strike notice, list 21 demands 

Telangana RTC employees demand merger with government, salary revisions, electric buses, and job security in strike notice.

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees through their joint action committee on Monday (January 27) served a strike notice on the management while pressing for 21 demands, including its merger with the State government first proposed through a government order in 2013.

From fulfilling the promises made to RTC employees in the election manifesto, revision of salaries and allowances pending since 2021, payment dues from 2017 revision to retired employees, and for recruitment that was stopped a decade ago, the JAC demanded the management to take expedited measures. A list of the demands and the notice was submitted to Executive Director Muni Sekhar.

According to JAC chairperson and general secretary of TGSRTC Employees Union E. Venkanna, and other union leaders who addressed media persons outside the Bus Bhavan here, the Corporation should buy electric buses and operate them as opposed to the current practice of contract, operations and maintenance by private players.

Financial stress and work burden together have taken a toll on drivers, in addition to work-related harassment and insecurities, and they continue to be on receiving end, they said.

One of the demands was that the State government issue smart cards to eligible women for free bus rides instead of the zero tickets and for increasing the bus strength as per the ridership.

Revocation of cases filed against employees who participated in protests during the 2019 RTC strike, illegal suspension, removal, and employees with their appeals rejected, job security, among other were the demands.