BANGALORE: A misunderstanding between a woman junior assistant and a BMTC conductor early on Friday morning led to around 500 employees of Kathriguppe bus depot resorting to a flash strike, affecting services of 90 buses . The strike was called off after senior BMTC officials visited the spot and pacified the employees.
“It was a misunderstanding as the junior assistant in charge of issuing trip sheets had an altercation with the conductor which led to a two-and-a-half-hour delay in bus departures. Around 90 buses, which were scheduled to depart at 6.30 am, were affected,” said KR Srinivasa, Managing Director of BMTC.
Sources at the depot said that the argument between Rajesh, the conductor and the woman officer started as there was a delay in issuing the trip sheet. “Rajesh then came out and sought the support of the depot staff, who decided to go on strike,” said an official at the depot.
“It was a simple case of delay leading to an argument. Services were restored after we went to the depot and calmed down the staff. The junior assistant was made to apologise for having started the argument and the apology was accepted,” said G N Veeregowda, BMTC, Chief Traffic Manager (Commercial), one of the officials who went to the spot.
The incident occurred at the Kathriguppe bus depot which is located near Padmanabhnagar and houses close to 150 buses.