RTC Managing Director Sambasiva Rao stated that it was inevitable to hike the bus fares in order to increase the salaries of the RTC employees in the state.
Rao indicated a hike of nearly 15% in the RTC fares.
However, he said that the fares would be increased only after approval from both the Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana state governments.
He said that the payment of 27% fitment allowance to RTC employees would put an additional burden of nearly Rs 800 crores on the corporation, and that the management was unable to increase the staff salaries due to the weak financial position. He also ruled out payment of 43% fitment allowance to RTC employees on par with other employees of the state governments.
The RTC MD informed that a Cabinet Sub-Committee had been formed by the state government to look into the demands of the employees' associations, and that a decision on the fulfillment of the employees' demands would be taken only after the receipt of the Sub-Committee's report.
He said that it was unfair on the part of the unions to go on strike while keeping the talks with the management inconclusive, and urged the employees to review their decision to go on strike keeping in view the weak financial position of the Road Transport Corporation. He said that the strike would deteriorate the conditions further.
He said that efforts were being made to put off or at least delay the strike. (INN)
filed in:TSRTC, APSRTC, RTC Bus Fare Hike, RTC Wage Hike