Hyderabad: The planned strike by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) workers, which was set to begin at midnight on May 6, has been cancelled. This decision came after successful talks between union leaders and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
The minister met with the RTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) and assured them that the government would address their demands. Following this assurance, the unions decided to postpone their strike.
To further address employee concerns, the government has formed a high-level committee. This panel includes senior IAS officers Naveen Mittal, Lokesh Kumar, and Krishna Bhaskar. Their job is to continue discussions with union leaders and submit a detailed report to the government.
Tuesday’s talks were attended by several public representatives, including Devarkadra MLA G Madhusudhan Reddy, Parigi MLA Ram Mohan Reddy, Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, MLC Professor M Kodandaram, and other top officials.
During the three-hour meeting, the minister and union leaders discussed key issues like heavy workloads and job-related stress. The proposed merger of RTC was also a major topic.
Union leaders said they were encouraged by the government’s willingness to respond to their concerns. They highlighted that the minister promised action on several points, including:
– Job security for employees
– Procurement of electric buses to modernize the fleet
– Positive steps toward compassionate appointments
The JAC also raised the issue of pending dues and salary adjustments for retired staff. Leaders said they are giving the government time to act but stressed that the strike is only on hold, not canceled permanently. If there is no progress, a new strike date will be announced.
TGSRTC management urged employees to avoid disruptions. They emphasized that every rupee earned by the corporation goes toward employee welfare. Despite financial challenges, the government has cleared long-overdue PRC and DA payments, showing its support for the staff.
Management added that strikes hurt both workers and the public. Instead, they encouraged employees to support ongoing talks.
Earlier, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to the unions to avoid becoming tools in political games. He asked them to bring their issues directly to the government for resolution.
