The Andhra Pradesh government succeeded in convincing its striking teachers in Seemandhra districts to call off their indefinite fast tonight, but talks with the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSTRC) employees remained inconclusive.
"Government teachers have agreed to end their strike and resume duties from tomorrow," AP Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy told reporters at the end of the talks held in the presence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office.
"The teachers' Joint Action Committee (JAC) wanted an assurance from the government on protection of their interests in the event of the state's division, though their main demand was that Andhra Pradesh be kept united. We assured them that all their concerns would be looked into, after which they agreed to call off the strike," the minister said.
A release from the Chief Minister's Office also said a cabinet sub-committee on employees' issues would look into demands raised by the teachers' JAC.
The teachers' decision comes close on the heels of power sector employees who, earlier during the day, agreed to temporarily withdraw their strike in view of the threat to coastal Andhra from Cyclone 'Phailan'.
However, talks held by AP Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana with APSRTC union leaders this evening remained inconclusive.
APRTC bus services remained totally paralysed for over 50 days now as employees and workers struck work indefinitely protesting against the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
