Transport employees across Telangana are set to begin an indefinite strike from midnight as the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) workers’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) announced a complete work stoppage. The strike comes after prolonged negotiations with the state government failed to address their 32 key demands, which include merger into government service, pending salary revisions, and improvement in working conditions.
The primary demand of the striking employees is the implementation of all promises made to RTC staff in the government manifesto. Workers are insisting on merging RTC employees into government service to resolve ongoing financial issues. The JAC has also demanded clearance of pending dues, increase in allowances from 2017, and settlement of retiree payments that have been delayed for years.
Financial concerns form a major part of the demands, with employees calling for implementation of the 2021 pay revision with 30% fitment and ensuring parity in the upcoming 2025 revision. The workers want the government to take over RTC debts and allocate 3% of the annual budget to the corporation. They have also demanded payment of monthly dues of ₹400 crore in full and clearance of ₹2,500 crore arrears.
The JAC has raised concerns about modernization and infrastructure, demanding purchase of new buses and strengthening of workshops. They oppose handing over RTC land to private electric vehicle operators and want the government to procure electric buses directly through the corporation. The workers are also demanding release of CCS, SRBS, and PF funds along with conducting CCS elections.
Employment-related demands include regularisation of jobs, filling of vacancies, grant of promotions, and raising the age limit to 44 years for recruitment. The striking employees want an immediate stop to outsourcing of drivers, conductors, and mechanics, and removal of retired outsourced officers. They are also calling for merger of hired buses and their staff into the RTC system.
Working conditions have emerged as a critical issue, with demands for implementation of 8-hour shifts and better facilities, especially for women staff. The JAC wants the government to stop forcing Hyderabad staff to work in district postings. They have also demanded withdrawal of police cases filed during the 2019 strike and improvements in hospital, medical, and retirement benefits for employees.
The free bus ticket scheme for women has also come under scrutiny, with workers demanding its replacement with smart cards and an increase in bus frequency to handle the additional passenger load. The JAC insists that the scheme, while beneficial for women passengers, has put additional financial and operational burden on the corporation without adequate compensation from the government.
