Buses off roads, talks not on
About 4,700 Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) buses have gone off the roads for the past 12 days because of employees’ strike, putting about a million passengers at the mercy of private operators.
Drivers and conductors went on strike on September 17. Chief managers and managers at 52 depots and around 400 staff at the corporation headquarters joined them on Thursday; about 17,000 employees went on mass leave, bringing the RSRTC to a halt.
The joint forum of roadways labour unions – All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Indian National Trade Union Congress, RSRTC Retired Employees Association, Bharatiya Janata Majdoor Sangh, and Rajasthan Roadways Retired Employees Welfare Samiti – have struck work, demanding salaries and allowances according to the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations.
The strike leads to a daily loss of ~5.32 crore for RSRTC, union mmebers said. “RSRTC is facing a cumulative loss of ~4,600 crore and 50% of this increased in the last four and a half years,” said AITUC state chief ML Yadav.
The unions said the government’s failure to replace 1,000 buses with new ones and appoint staff on 8,000 vacant posts were responsible for the losses.
“In the absence of new buses, maintenance costs of old ones went up; the corporation took 1,000 buses on contract, paying ~20 crore every month,” he said.
Opening the routes reserved for the stage carriage to private players was also blamed for the loss. As per Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, 12.64% routes were notified as nationalised on which only government buses could run.
In December 2015, the Rajasthan Public Transport Service was formed, routes were denotified and permits were given to private operators.
The unions went on a strike for two days in July this year, after which transport minister Yoonus Khan signed an agreement on July 27 that sought to pay an outstanding subsidy of ~150 crore to the corporation by August, replace 1,000 old buses with new ones, extend the Seventh Pay Commission benefits, and fill up vacant posts.
“None of these promises have been fulfilled,” Yadav said. After the headquarters staff joined the stir, the demand has narrowed down to pay commission benefits.
“It seems the government wants to delay the implementation until the model code of conduct comes into effect; the government can use it as an excuse to not fulfil its promise,” Yadav said.
Replying to a question in the assembly in March 2016, the transport minister had said that the corporation could be in profit if the load factor was 90%. The current load factor is about 75%. Unions said a 90% load factor was not possible after private buses were allowed to ply on nationalised routes. “The government cannot increase fares. It is not giving additional subsidy and the loss is mounting,” Yadav said.
RSRTC managing director Sanwar Mal Verma said, “Transport minister appealed to the employees not to go on strike but they didn’t heed to his words. The government is ready to talk to the employees but they are adamant on strike.” The unions said the government has made no efforts to start talks in the past 12 days.
The Congress has come down on the government. “People are facing problems but the government is not holding talks with the employees (and) is busy taking out Gaurav Yatra,” said Archana Sharma, the state spokesperson.
LOGJAM SRTC staff on strike for 12 days as losses mount, unions say govt hasn’t approached them yet JAIPUR:
STRIKES ELSEWHERE About one lakh employees of the Rajasthan Rajya Karamchari Sanyukt Mahasangh are on strike for the past nine days over demands that include increasing grade pay of junior assistants to ~3,600; salary and allowances equivalent to that of Secretariat staff; clearance of promotions and creation of a directorate, said Manoj Saxena, the unit’s chief.
On the other hand, 13,000 employees of the Rajasthan Rural Development Services have been on strike for the past 17 days now, demanding creation of a promotion channel, dedicated cadre and better service conditions.