Bengaluru: Indefinite period of strike call given by the BMTC-KSRTC employees regarding wage related demands have started at 6 am on Wednesday, April 7. As a result, the public movement has been disrupted across the state.
Several universities postponed the semester examinations fearing the bandh.
The state government asked all the district administrations to utilise the services of school vans, private vehicles, private buses by providing temporary licenses on the KSRTC routes. Despite the State Government’s assurances, commuters in the city and all over the State suffered heavily as they were unable to travel from their homes to workplaces or other destinations.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, while appealing the workers to give up their strike, made it clear that the State Government has fulfilled 8 out of the 9 demands notwithstanding the slowdown in the economy.
He said that the State Government has already agreed to pay an 8% increase in salaries to the RTC and BMTC employees as an interim relief even while refusing to pay salaries as per the 6th Pay Commission report, which however could not be implemented in view of the model code of conduct now in operation in different districts due to the ongoing assembly and lok sabha by-elections.
With inputs from Bhavana S
