The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)-affiliated Transport Democratic Front (TDF) and the AITUC-affiliated Kerala State Transport Employees Union (KSTEU) will go on a token strike on January 4 to protest against the delay in disbursing salary and pension in the KSRTC.
R. Sasidharan, working president, TDF, said on Saturday his union was going ahead with the strike as the management failed to disburse the salary on the last working day of the month as promised by Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran in talks with unions on December 20.
Minister’s promise
The Minister had also promised that 6 per cent dearness allowance announced by the previous United Democratic Front government would be given without delay. Mr. Sasidharan said Chairman and Managing Director M.G. Rajamanickam issued an order on December 28 freezing the DA.
He said two months’ pension would be due to the retirees on January 1.
The TDF committee that met here decided to go on a token strike on January 4 in view of the Sabarimala season. “We will have to go for an indefinite stir if the salary and DA are not disbursed,” the TDF leader said.
The KSTEU also announced its decision to join the strike called by the TDF. Apart from the TDF, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions-affiliated Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA) is the other recognised union.
The KSRTEA served a strike notice on December 21, but withdrew it following an assurance from the Minister.
The KSRTC needs ₹58 crore to pay the salary and ₹55 crore for monthly pensions. The 6 per cent DA will incur an additional expenditure of ₹6.5 crore.
Thus, the corporation will need ₹174.5 crore to pay the salary, two months’ pension, and DA. The fuel bill of the KSRTC to the oil companies is also above ₹100 crore.
Mr. Rajamanickam told The Hindu that the corporation was taking steps to disburse the salary in the first week by arranging funds.
“The corporation is bleeding with no money and DA disbursement cannot be thought of till the financial situation improves,” he added.
