RTC deadlock continues, unions term debt-trap talk as govt ruse

HYDERABAD: Talks between RTC employees’ unions and transport minister P Mahender Reddy and other RTC officials made no progress on Thursday. While the state government insisted that the unions should first withdraw their strike notice, the RTC union leaders said they want assurance on their demands from the

chief minister

or ministers. RTC union leaders said they would come back on Saturday afternoon and announce their decision on the strike.


Earlier in the day, minister Mahender Reddy, RTC chairman Somavarapu Satyanarayana, transport department principal secretary Sunil Sharma, RTC managing director GV Ramana Rao held a meeting with union leaders, including Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) leader E Ashwathama Reddy, Thomas Reddy and JAC leader Raji Reddy, Tirupathi and others.

The minister explained to leaders that the financial burden on the RTC management if their demands are accepted would amount to Rs 1,400 crore. The RTC, which has a debt of Rs 3,000 crore, Rs 250 crore interest and accumulating a loss of Rs 700 crore, cannot survive with the additional financial burden. The minister said if the unions go on strike, they would suffer a loss of Rs 1.5 crore per day and urged them to withdraw the strike.

RTC union leaders said that the state government first sought the postponement of the strike after which their demands would be discussed. In response, the leaders said they asked the government to first give assurance that their demands would be resolved within a stipulated time, between a week or 10 days, but that the state government did not give any assurance. If the government releases grants and reimbursement, there would not be any losses to the corporation, they said. “The state government should not look at the RTC as a loss or profit making company. RTC accumulated losses during Telangana agitation and the government has to bear the losses now,” Ashwathama Reddy said.

“Hand over the corporation to officials and board of directors for four years. We will ensure that it will make profit. We union leaders don’t want any director posts,” the TMU leader said.

He said the proposed strike from June 11 has not been postponed yet. “We will hold an emergency meeting with our state body and discuss the issue. We told the minister that we would announce our decision on Saturday afternoon,” Ashwathama Reddy said.

The leaders also condemned the comments by CM K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday that the leaders were making demands in view of the union elections. This is misleading public and humiliating the RTC workers, JAC leader Raji Reddy said. While JAC leader VS Rao alleged that the government was trying to privatize the RTC and to oppose it its workers will hold demonstrations at all RTC depots by wearing black badges on Saturday.

Meanwhile, minister Mahender Reddy and Etela Rajender met the chief minister at Pragati Bhavan soon after their meeting with the union leaders and appraised him of the outcome of the talks. The labour department joint commissioner also held a meeting with the RTC leaders. Another meeting has been scheduled for June 14.