Despite years of protests for wage hikes, union recognition and better working conditions, workers' demands remain unmet. Now, the RTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) has threatened an indefinite strike from 9 February.
Published Jan 31, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2025 | 8:00 AM
An indefinite TGSRTC strike looms overhead the upcoming Telangana Budget Session
As the Congress-led Telangana government prepares to present its 2025-26 budget in early February, discontent among Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) employees over the party’s unfulfilled election promises threatens to boil over.
Despite years of protests for wage hikes, union recognition and better working conditions, workers’ demands remain unmet. Now, the RTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) has threatened an indefinite strike from 9 February.
Workers are also pushing for a more modern, electrified fleet and greater job security, as per the Congress’ unfulfilled promises ahead of the 2023 elections.
“Since 2012, there have been only about two or three pay raises,” explained a regularised employee of the TGSRTC, requesting anonymity.
She has worked 10-hour shifts daily since 2012 to support a family of three, including two teenage children, on a salary of about ₹32,000 a month.
“With overtime, I earn ₹40,000 in total. However, that is only enough to cover rent and [my children’s] education,” she revealed. “We’ve been protesting for years to no change. I don’t know if this protest will yield any change, so all I can do is manage my finances smartly,” she said.
The sole avenue for RTC workers to put through their demands is through unions. However, the government has yet to provide permission for their unionisation, which was among the Congress’ promises in the run-up to the 2023 Legislative Assembly polls.
“Unions or not, how can we grow if the department itself isn’t in our corner?” explained another worker, the sole breadwinner in a family of five. “I’m in an endless cycle of debt. I don’t think that will change, because I don’t think these conditions will,” he added.
“Our intention here is not to antagonise the government. We want to find a solution for our issues,” said Thomas Reddy, the Vice Chairman of the RTC Joint Action Committee.
The JAC has drafted a list of 21 demands, with wage increase as the primary demand. The committee seeks this increase to match the 2017 and 2021 Pay Revision Committees (PRCs), on par with other government employees.
Among key demands is the immediate payment of dues to retiring employees, as well as replacing retired employees working as outsourced personnel through promotions and fresh recruitments.
Workers have also requested for better incentives, including medical welfare programmes. Most demands align with Congress’s promises to RTC employees in its manifesto ahead of the 2023 assembly polls.
Beyond current issues, the JAC’s demands are forward-looking. The committee’s proposals include fleet modernisation – another Congress promise – with a three percent allocation in the yearly budget, alongside a push to fill all corporation vacancies.
Concerns have been raised about the state’s flagship Mahalakshmi Scheme, which provides free bus transport to women. The JAC advocates replacing the current ID-based system with smart cards for beneficiaries.
Safety considerations have prompted a request for female workers to work shifts ending before 8 pm. The JAC also emphasised the need to replace old regulations with a fresh framework for job security.
“We are giving the government time until 9 February to resolve our issues. Until then, we will continue meeting leaders to make our case and raise awareness among employees,” Thomas Reddy said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
