No question of taking back on the issue of salary hikes, RTC employees confirmed once again.

It is known that, the fitment issue is currently the burning matter in the RTC department. At Bus Bhavan, the fight is still going on. The discussions which were  held between the government and the RTC employees on Tuesday were failed. The government asked the employees to wait for few days for the proper decision, as it is going to be the huge burden for government if announced the fitment now.

No problem, we have alternatives- Shiddha 

Transport minister Shiddha Raghava Rao pleaded the employees to drop the strike. But after few failure attempts, minister said that there would not be any kind of disturbance to normal lives of public as the government had already made the required arrangements. But he could  not specify those and that gave the employees much more boosting to continue the strike.

AP cabinet sub committee has invited the RTC employees to participate in the discussion, but none were turned to it, the minister reminded. However the proposal of increasing the bus fares is already taken to CM, he further added.

Please try to understand - RTC MD

On the other side, RTC MD,Samba Siva Rao said that there should be sufficient funds to announce the fitments, but as of now there are no such funds. He reminded that RTC employees were promised to give 27% fitment in the past. But for giving it, an extra burden of 880 crores will fall on the department and moreover, there was a loss of 500 crores last year to RTC, so the idea was taken back.

It is sad to know that none of the RTC employees are taking back the idea of strike even after forming a sub committee. If this continues, the department has to think about the alternatives, MD warned. 

By Phani