The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is in the red. To overcome the situation, RTC Executive Director (Administration) A. Venkateswara Rao has sought the cooperation of employees and trade union leaders. Mr. Venkateswara Rao, who came from Hyderabad as observer for the ongoing 24 National Road Safety Week celebrations of the Vijayawada Zone, said on Sunday that RTC’s losses stood at Rs. 2,800 crore.
“Rivalry among trade unions is also responsible for the losses, and a report has been sent to the management in this regard.
Union leaders should understand the company’s position with a kind heart and cooperate with the officials to overcome the situation. If not, the corporation will have to be wound up shortly,” he cautioned.
“The corporation has a bank loan of Rs.4,000 crore obtained to pay salaries. Despite facing several odds, it is extending concessions to the passengers,” he said.
This apart, the RTC was planning to provide pension, housing, and medical facilities for employees and provide jobs for eligible dependants under “compassionate grounds,” he added. “The management is making all efforts to implement the wage board,” Mr. Rao said.
However, the official’s plain-speaking did not go well with the workers. Criticising Mr. Rao for explaining the company’s adverse position in an open meeting, which was attended by family members of employees and students, the workers boycotted the event. Officials’ efforts to pacify them went in vain.
Mr. Rao said the Occupancy Ratio, which dropped to 57 per cent in 2008, reached 81 per cent due to the hard work of the staff.
The management plans to organise motivation programmes for depot managers and supervisors in February and a 45-day training programme for other staff members during March and April.
Sloganeering
Objecting to certain comments of Mr. Rao, the employees raised slogans questioning as to how unions were responsible for the corporation’s losses.
They alleged that officials were spending huge amounts for unproductive purposes, but were not initiating measures to implement the wage board.
