What is the story about?
Public bus services were hit in Karnataka on Tuesday (August 5) after employees of state-owned transport corporations began an indefinite strike. Passengers faced difficulty in commuting after workers of all four road
transport corporations in the state — KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC — launched a statewide strike.
The unions went ahead with the strike despite a court stay against the agitation. Buses remained parked at depots, and only a few were seen running, as some staff chose not to participate in the strike.
A passenger said, "We have our reservations already. No official here is properly responding. They are not even telling us if our bus has been cancelled. We have no clarity. My journey is very essential. I have to go. I cannot even look for a
flight or train at the last moment. Even the private buses are all full. I am totally held up, unable to do anything. It's a mess here."
Demands:
The transport corporations have roped in trainee bus drivers to manage the situation.
Samir Pasha, a private bus driver, told ANI, "We have been permitted to ply our buses on the routes of state transport buses. Ticket prices have also been set. We cannot charge more than the government bus tickets."
Bus stands in major cities like Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Chitradurga, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Madikeri, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi saw heavy passenger rush.
Amid the strike, private bus operators and cab aggregators allegedly benefitted as passengers turned to them to reach their destinations. Some passengers complained to the media that autorickshaw drivers were charging exorbitant fares in Bengaluru.
The protest happened after talks
between the workers' unions and the Karnataka government failed. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had appealed to the unions to call off the strike.
However, union leaders said they were unhappy with the government's offer to clear only two years of arrears and having got no clear assurance on salary revision.
The unions went ahead with the strike despite a court stay against the agitation. Buses remained parked at depots, and only a few were seen running, as some staff chose not to participate in the strike.
A passenger said, "We have our reservations already. No official here is properly responding. They are not even telling us if our bus has been cancelled. We have no clarity. My journey is very essential. I have to go. I cannot even look for a
Demands:
- Wage revision effective January 1, 2024
- Payment of 38 months' salary arrears
The transport corporations have roped in trainee bus drivers to manage the situation.
Samir Pasha, a private bus driver, told ANI, "We have been permitted to ply our buses on the routes of state transport buses. Ticket prices have also been set. We cannot charge more than the government bus tickets."
Bus stands in major cities like Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Chitradurga, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Madikeri, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi saw heavy passenger rush.
Amid the strike, private bus operators and cab aggregators allegedly benefitted as passengers turned to them to reach their destinations. Some passengers complained to the media that autorickshaw drivers were charging exorbitant fares in Bengaluru.
The protest happened after talks
However, union leaders said they were unhappy with the government's offer to clear only two years of arrears and having got no clear assurance on salary revision.
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