THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC trade unions gave the cold shoulder to Finance Minister Thomas Isaac’s appeal the other day seeking their support for implementing the Sushil Khanna-report for the revival of organisation.
General secretary of AITUC-affiliated Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA) M G Rahul said there was nothing new in the demand by the Minister.
“The management had already implemented most of the recommendations when M G Rajamanickam was the chairman and managing director. We have opposed the measures affecting the employees. The government, on the other hand, can do a lot as promised in the LDF manifesto. The ball is now in its court.”
The KSRTC modified duty patterns, reduced reliance on contract workers and focused on operational aspects as recommended by the report.
The changes in duty pattern helped to run more buses. Besides generating higher revenue it could also reduce the overhead cost per bus which is considered higher than the national average. But it was opposed even by CITU-affiliated Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA). It has a fleet of 6,300 buses and 44,000 employees.
INTUC-affiliated Transport Democratic Federation state president Thampanoor Ravi said there was nothing practical in the report for reviving KSRTC. “The government is behaving like a North Korean ruler when dealing with KSRTC employees. The Chief Minister should take up the issue and hold an all-party meeting to sort out the problems,” he said.
Monday meeting
The meeting of the KSRTC management with trade unions in the backdrop of Finance Minister talking tough on reforms, turned out to be a damp squib. The meeting held at Transport Bhavan on Monday was about getting support from employees on their contributions for the victims of cyclone Ockhi.
The management had already implemented most of the recommendations when M G Rajamanickam was the chairman and managing director. We have opposed the measures affecting the employees. The government, on the other hand, can do a lot as promised in the LDF manifesto. The ball is now in its court
M G Rahul, KSRTEA general secretary