Unrest brewing among APRTC employees

VIJAYAWADA: Employees Union (EU) called for protests across the state a day ahead of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) board meeting on Tuesday. The which lost its recognition to National Mazdur Union (NMU) in the last elections, has been opposing hired buses.

The EU calls for lunch time protests against the proposed move of increasing hired buses from existing 20 per cent to 35 per cent. Speaking to TOI, the additional general secretary of EU, P Dhamodhar said that increasing the hired buses is nothing but to reduce the staff.

He alleged that the APSRTC has already reduced 5,000 employees so far after the state bifurcation. The APSRTC during the same period increased 260 hired buses while reducing 800 own buses. ‘We are also against the orders issued through a circular on 15th June which will increase the work burden on maintenance staff’ he said.

Another major demand that the EU put forth was to give 27 per cent Interim Relief (IR) as the pay revision has not been done since 1st April 2017. Dhamodhar said the new pay revision was pending since more than a year now. So we are demanding to give 27 per cent IR as given on previous occasion in the combined state he said. He also warned that they will announce future course of action based on the decisions taken on Tuesdays meeting.