Employees of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will strike indefinitely from December 17, if the government does not hike the employees’ salaries by 25 per cent, according to Jaiprakash Chhajed, State President of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
Speaking to The Asian Age in Nashik on Sunday, Mr Chhajed said the Maharashtra S.T. Worker’s Congress-affiliated INTUC has already given a memorandum of their demands to the transport minister, MSRTC MD, labour commissioner and others to cancel the 2012-2016 agreement and to give 25 percent extra pay during that period.The memorandum states that they expect a favourable decision by December 17 and that they have already given a strike notice.
“We are ready for the strike,” Mr Chhajed stated. He further said the salaries of MSRTC employees were very low compared to those of other government corporations and departments.
“Given the massive inflation the employees have become debt-ridden and there are recent cases of suicides. Maharashtra electricity companies’ have got a 25 percent hike despite their companies incurring losses worth crores of rupees.
“A few months ago Andhra-Telangana ST employees got a salary hike of 44 per cent. Then why are MSRTC employees not getting their due?” Mr Chhajed questioned.
ST Workers Congress has earlier held demonstrations and agitations at divisional and depot levels. A total of 53,503 employees have given a signed letter to the MSRTC administration to increase their salary by 25 per cent.Other demands included in the MSRTC’s memorandum are: junior employees who complete three years should be brought in the wage agreement, the duty allocation of drivers and conductors should be computerised, the T-9 rotation system should be implemented, cashless medical services, transfers to deserving personnel like the disabled, etc.
Source : Asianage
