Private bus staff on a war path

Commuters are in for a tough ride this week, as the private bus employees as well as a section of the KSRTC employees are observing a state-wide protest, pressing  for various demands.

The Motor Thozhilali Samyuktha Samara Samiti, a congregation of various unions, which began their indefinite strike from Sunday night, will continue the strike until private bus owners concede to their demands, which include a fifty per cent hike in total wages.

Meanwhile, the CITU affiliated Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA) employees have decided to get into protest mode on Tuesday to express solidarity with the ongoing agitation against the participatory pension scheme. The stir is expected to affect the services of the KSRTC on Tuesday, as the KSRTEA employees constitute 70 per cent of the workforce.

“The participatory pension scheme of the state government will also affect the employees of the KSRTC sector. That is why we have expressed solidarity with the agitation. However, despite such agitations, it is  extremely sad to see that the government is unresponsive,” said T P Venu, member of the KSRTEA.

Meanwhile, the unions have alleged that the KSRTC does not have sufficient number of buses to cater to the needs of passengers, even as the private bus employees are going on   strike. Currently, number of buses from various depots across the state have been sent to Pampa to cater to the needs of the Sabarimala pilgrims.

“The KSRTC will not be able to manage the situation during the strike. Unless the state government rolls out more buses, the sector would be seriously affected,” the members added.