Strike illegal, says APSRTC ED

APSRTC Vizianagaram Zone Executive Director A. Ramakrishna said that going on strike within 14 days of serving the notice was illegal under Industrial Disputes Act 1947.

Even as the recognised Employees Union of the APSRTC called for strike from the midnight of Monday, Vizianagaram Zone Executive Director A. Ramakrishna to whom the notice was served said that going on strike within 14 days of serving the notice was illegal under Industrial Disputes Act 1947.

RTC was reeling under a loss of Rs.3,000 crore and debt of Rs.4,000 crore and was finding it difficult to pay salaries, he said in a statement on Sunday urging the employees to reconsider their decision. The RTC would stand to lose revenue that would come from meeting passenger rush during the auspicious Sravanam in which marriages and other functions take place.

He said as per the State Government’s orders RTC would come under emergency services and going on “illegal strike” would lead to stern disciplinary action and the loss suffered would be recovered from employees and services of contract workers would be terminated.

Call to clerical staff

Meanwhile, Samaikyandhra Struggle Committee convener of EU Valisetti Damodara Rao called upon drivers of hire buses, RTC supervisors and clerical staff in the 123 depots to participate in the strike.

He made it clear that contract conductors and drivers would participate in the strike and wanted the management to desist from making “threatening” statements.

NMU State joint secretary Y. Srinivasa Rao described as provocative the warnings of the management. He said the strike was not for the benefit of employees but on larger issues of all the properties of RTC being located in Hyderabad and the loss that RTC in Seemandhra would suffer. Bus Bhavan land worth thousands of crores, printing press, training college and body building unit were located in Hyderabad. NMU wanted private buses and autos also to participate in the strike.