RTC buses off roads in Telugu states as employees' strike begins

Hyderabad and Vijayawada, May 6, 2015: As RTC employees in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana began an indefinite strike since this morning seeking 43 per cent fitment in wage revision, thousands of buses went off the roads subjecting the commuters to hardships. The strike became imminent as the three rounds of talks between RTC workers' unions and Government representatives ended in failure on Tuesday. RTC unions first held talks with MD Sambasiva Rao, again with Cabinet sub committee members at the Secretariat and finally with RTC officials and cabinet sub committee members but the talks ended in failure resulting in the strike. The employees of the RTC, which is not yet totally bifurcated, are demanding a hike of 43 per cent while the Government and RTC management are of the view that the organisation would have to borrow funds again for its survival if it agrees for the demand. The management ruled out 43 per cent fitment saying that it can't bear the hike as the organisation has been already suffering huge financial losses. It said it was ready to hike the salaries by 27 per cent.