Various employees’ unions of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have called for a 24-hour strike from Friday midnight. The KSRTC bus service is expected to be completely off the road since almost every registered union is taking part in the strike. The unions are demanding withdrawal of anti-employee provisions in a revival package worked out by the KSRTC to overcome its financial crisis, settlement of pension arrears, and protection of statutory pension, among others.
Talks with Minister for Transport Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishan on Wednesday failed to reach a settlement. The unions decided to go ahead with the strike despite the decision of the management to pay salary to the staff and clear the pension arrears for January on Friday evening by mobilising Rs.52 crore. The corporation said that steps were being taken to clear the pension arrears.
In a statement here on Friday night, he said the strike would further aggravate the crisis. The UDF government had paid Rs.958 crore to the corporation after it came to power. Of this, Rs.484 crore was paid this year alone. The strike will lead to further crisis and the employees should withdraw from it, he said.
Dies nonThe Chairman and Managing Director of the KSRTC said the principle of dies non (no work, no pay) would apply to all employees who joined the strike.
