Normal life was hit in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as employees of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went on an indefinite strike today demanding a pay hike.
Office-goers and normal passengers in the two states faced inconvenience as employees of APSRTC struck work demanding 43 per cent hike in their salaries on a par with the other government employees of the two states.
The employees resorted to strike after the APSRTC management expressed its inability to concede their demand in view of its poor financial health and the ongoing process of dividing the corporation between AP and Telangana.
The APSRTC is yet to be divided between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, following state's bifurcation last year.
Meanwhile, the state governments have initiated alternative measures like hiring drivers and conductors on a temporary basis. The strike today resulted in a loss of Rs 18 crore for the corporation in both the states, according to an official. The corporation had roped in temporary staff to run hire services and said it could resume 10 per cent of the total services.
The official said the managing director of the corporation had requested the striking staff to withdraw the strike and resume services at the earliest. However, the striking staff are in no mood to back off and want both the state governments to satisfy their demands.
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the government would speak to the railways to make additional arrangements for passengers.
The employees' union leaders said they would not be cowed down if the corporation decides to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
APSRTC, which operates more than 20,000 buses, is the major public transport in both the states. Its buses cover about 7.9 million km and carry 15.6 million people to their destinations everyday. Taking advantage of the strike, private transport like auto rickshaw and taxis charged exorbitant fares, passengers alleged.
Office-goers and normal passengers in the two states faced inconvenience as employees of APSRTC struck work demanding 43 per cent hike in their salaries on a par with the other government employees of the two states.
The employees resorted to strike after the APSRTC management expressed its inability to concede their demand in view of its poor financial health and the ongoing process of dividing the corporation between AP and Telangana.
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Maintaining that they cannot be blamed for poor financial condition of the organisation, employees insisted on a pay hike and promised to do their best to improve the situation if their demand is met.
The APSRTC is yet to be divided between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, following state's bifurcation last year.
Meanwhile, the state governments have initiated alternative measures like hiring drivers and conductors on a temporary basis. The strike today resulted in a loss of Rs 18 crore for the corporation in both the states, according to an official. The corporation had roped in temporary staff to run hire services and said it could resume 10 per cent of the total services.
The official said the managing director of the corporation had requested the striking staff to withdraw the strike and resume services at the earliest. However, the striking staff are in no mood to back off and want both the state governments to satisfy their demands.
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the government would speak to the railways to make additional arrangements for passengers.
The employees' union leaders said they would not be cowed down if the corporation decides to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
APSRTC, which operates more than 20,000 buses, is the major public transport in both the states. Its buses cover about 7.9 million km and carry 15.6 million people to their destinations everyday. Taking advantage of the strike, private transport like auto rickshaw and taxis charged exorbitant fares, passengers alleged.