The Hindu : APSRTC union threatens stir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

APSRTC union threatens stir

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH April 24. The APSRTC Employees' Union will go on strike in the first week of May if the management does not keep in abeyance four notices issued stating that some of the existing service benefits will be withdrawn.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the union's State president, B. Rama Rao, said the four notices issued under Section 19 (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, sought to scrap compassionate appointment to the kin of deceased employees, withdrawal of wage parity to conductors who were promoted as junior stores assistants, dropping of the initial subsidiary duty time of five minutes for issuing tickets in city bus services and stipulation to record SR in every bus stage.

Mr. Rama Rao flayed the notices at a time when the union verification process was on due to the technical expiry of the recognised union's term on April 23. Proposing to withdraw the compassionate appointments in vogue since 1970, the management had proposed to give cash compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the kin of each deceased employee. The existing practice of ensuring wage parity for conductors on par with junior stores assistants when the former were promoted was sought to be given up, he said.

The Motor Transport Workers' Act stipulated subsidiary duty time of 15 minutes for conductors to issue tickets in bus stations, but the time of five minutes being given since 1978 was proposed to be withdrawn, he lamented. The conductors were being asked to record SRs at every stage in city services as against the existing practice of recording SRs on alternate stages, he said.

The Employees' Union held two rounds of discussions with the RTC management and a conciliation meeting would be held with the Labour Commissioner, Mr. Rama Rao said. Members of the recognised union, Employees' Union, would go on strike if the meeting failed, he stated. He resented the practice adopted since 1985 to issue notices during the union verification process for withdrawal of existing benefits.

The union's State vice-president, Ch. Chandrasekhara Reddy, the deputy secretary-general, B. Raghava Reddy, the State secretary, S.B. Rajendra Prasad, and leaders, M.N. Reddy and I. Adinarayana, also took part.

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