KSRTC bus services across the districts of Karnataka may be disrupted on Thursday, 19 February, as the Karnataka State Transport employees have called for a “Bengaluru Chalo” protest raising several demands. Passengers have been requested by the KSRTC to take necessary precautions, as it is likely that regular services may be partially disrupted in various districts.
As per local media reports, the main protest gathering is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru's Freedom Park.
Why are KSRTC workers protesting?
KSRTC employees are demanding the clearance of pending arrears from the 38-month wage revision period between 1 January 2020 and 28 February 2023.
They are also demanding the implementation of a four-year wage agreement from 1 January 2024, among other requirements. When a strike was held earlier, the government had persuaded the workers and assured them that their demands would be met, but no action was taken subsequently.
Will intimidation work?
While Karnataka State RTC Managing Director Akram Pasha has reportedly instructed employees to report for duty without fail on Thursday, he has warned that disciplinary action, including salary cuts, will be taken against those who take part in the protests and remain absent from work. However, it is unlikely that public life will go undisrupted. Officials have been directed to prepare unit-wise lists of absentee employees and initiate action against them, Eedina said in a report.
In an attempt to intimidate employees and discourage them from refusing to work, the KSRTC MD has reportedly instructed officials to deny leave to workers on Thursday unless it is an emergency situation. However, those availing a weekly off or who are on long-term leave have been exempted from the decision, the Eedina report said. If required, weekly holidays should be cancelled and employees deployed for duty, officials have reportedly been instructed.
Earlier, transport employees had called for a protest at Freedom Park from 10 am to 4 pm on 29 January to press for their demands.