Unpaid arrears: KTC workers to go on strike

Panaji: Employees of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) have threatened to go on strike from Sep 6 if govt fails to disburse arrears according to the 7th Pay Commission that have been pending for 34 months.

The employees have also demanded that Mhaji Bus Scheme be scrapped and 300 diesel buses be procured for routes currently served by the Mhaji bus operators.

The KTC Drivers and Allied Employees Association (KDAEA), backed by the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), has also expressed their reservations about the induction of electric buses and accused govt of financially crippling KTCL.

“We are giving govt a 21-day strike notice. On the night of Sep 6, we will stop all the Kadamba bus services if our demands are not met. We have held protests, written to govt, and govt has not listened to us,” said AITUC general secretary Christopher Fonseca.

“Govt has come up with the Mhaji Bus Scheme, and 57 private buses are operating under this scheme. This scheme must be discontinued as people are avoiding Kadamba Transport. At least 150-200 buses have been scrapped, but new buses have not been procured. Now, govt gets electric buses that are operated by private operators,” said Fonseca.