TSRTC Strike From Midnight After Talks Fail; Vice Chairman Urges Staff Not to Join Agitation
HYDERABAD: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses will remain off the roads from midnight after talks between a government-appointed committee and the Telangana RTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) ended without a resolution.
Following the failed talks, the RTC JAC announced a strike from midnight. It said discussions with an IAS officers’ committee did not address long-pending demands. As a result, leaders warned that public transport across the state will face major disruption. They added that buses will stay in depots.
Earlier, the JAC had issued a strike notice 41 days ago. However, it criticised the government for delaying negotiations. According to the leaders, their demands remain unchanged. These include merger of RTC with the government, conduct of union elections, and continuation of RTC-run services.
In addition, the JAC rejected the negotiation format. It said talks through an IAS committee were “not appropriate”. The leaders further declared, “The strike will continue from midnight. We will not bow to pressure.”
Meanwhile, TSRTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Y. Nagi Reddy responded to the strike call. He said the government acted positively on employee concerns and formed a committee of IAS officers to examine the issues in detail.
Moreover, Reddy explained that the committee had already held detailed discussions with union representatives. He also stated that the government had requested four weeks to resolve complex matters in phases.
At the same time, he urged employees not to join the strike and to report for duty. He warned that some unions were misleading workers. He stressed that uninterrupted RTC services are vital for daily wage workers, small employees, and commuters who rely on public transport.
Finally, he reiterated that the government remains committed to resolving the issues through structured dialogue.
