Minister Warns Employees Not to Participate in Bus Strike Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy issued a stern warning to employees of state-run road transport corporations on Monday, urging them to avoid participating in a statewide bus strike planned for Wednesday. The minister emphasized that disciplinary action would be taken against any employees who abstain from duty during the strike. This directive follows a decision by the joint action committee (JAC) of transport unions to proceed with the agitation, which is driven by demands for wage revisions. Reddy explained the government’s position, stating that salary adjustments for transport corporation employees are typically implemented every four years. However, he claimed that the previous BJP government had deferred a planned revision during the Covid-19 period. The current administration, under the Congress-led government, implemented a wage revision in 2023 with retroactive effect, scheduling the next revision for 2027. Unions, however, are opposing this timeline, insisting on retrospective implementation of the wage hike to address the financial gap. Despite the government’s decision to advance the wage revision to April 1, 2025—two years earlier than the original 2027 date—unions remain dissatisfied. They demand that the revised pay structure take effect from January 1, 2024, arguing that the current framework violates established wage revision norms and deprives employees of nearly 15 months of salary benefits. Reddy accused the unions of refusing to reach a consensus, asserting that the government had taken “proactive and financially calibrated measures” to address the issue.#ksrtc #transport_minister_ramalinga_reddy #joint_action_committee_jac #bmtc #essential_services_maintenance_act_esma
