State govt has announced 19 % IR to the APSRTC employees

The State government has announced 19 % interim relief (IR) towards the salary hike of APSRTC employees, even as the recommendations of the Pay Revision Committee (PRC) is awaited.

Minister for Transport K. Atchannaidu and RTC chairman Varla Ramaiah on Sunday said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had agreed to the proposal of providing 19% IR to all employees.“The IR is going to put a financial burden of 240 crore on the exchequer. Even as the government is awaiting the PRC reports, the Chief Minister wants to provide it to 54,000 employees,” the Minister said.

However, the APSRTC Employees Union (EU) is not happy with the percentage announced by the government.Employees Union leaders Y.V. Rao, K. Padmakar, Pallisetty Damodara Rao and others said despite the National Mazdoor Union negotiating with the government, the latter had done injustice to the employees by settling with 19% IR.“In 2014, the government provided 64,000 RTC employees with 27 % IR when the revenue income was 3,697 crore. But, there are only 54,000 employees now while the revenue income is around 5,500 crore,” a press release quoted the union leaders as saying.

“The corporation’s income has increased substantially and the employees deserve more — at least 27% IR and 50% fitment. Any hike less than this means an injustice is meted out to the staff. This is a black day and we call upon all the employees to oppose the government decision by sporting black badges for the next three days,” Mr. Rao said.