Employees of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) staged dharnas at the 128 depots and workshops across the 13 districts of the State on Wednesday, in protest against the management’s failure to pay their September salaries in time.
Looming uncertainty
“The employees were puzzled as they did not get any alert message on their phones about deposit of salary in their bank accounts. When we approached the management, we were told that due to paucity of funds, the employees will be paid only 80% of their salaries now,” said P. Damodar Rao, general secretary of the APSRTC Employees’ Union (EU).
This is the first time that the employees had faced this situation.
“We were rejoicing about the merger and the several other initiatives that entail the merger. But denial of full salary is giving rise to fresh doubts in the minds of the employees,” he said.
The union leaders argue that it was not a very difficult task for the management to set aside ₹145 crore (net cash) for payment of salaries.
Demand for arrears
They also demanded payment of the 40 % arrears of the 2013 Pay Revision Committee, which was to be paid to the employees by September 30 as per an agreement reached by the union and the government on February 5.
“We also condemn in strong terms the ‘unilateral’ decision of the management on key issues related to the employees’ welfare,” said the EU president Y.V. Rao.
