Finally, the various Seemandhra employees’ unions are calling off the strike one after the other. Around 45,000 power employees, 1.61 lakh teachers and hundreds of deputy collectors announced Thursday their decision to join duties from Friday.
The end of the electricity employees’ stir is a major relief for the people as the lack of power supply for the last five days has plunged the entire region into darkness, making life miserable.
The main association, APNGOs, will meet in a day or two to decide their future course. Indications are they will call off their strike of over 70 days. “We are convinced with the Chief Minister’s assurance that they will oppose T Bill in the Assembly. We have decided to join duties at 6 a.m. Friday,” Seemandhra JAC chairman V Saibaba and co-chairman P Srinivas said. The deputy collectors called off their strike, citing the need to attend emergency duties in view of the cyclone warning. The announcements came after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held talks with the Seemandhra power employees’ JAC and teachers.
The RTC employees were buoyed by GO 954 issued Thursday and happy after talks with Transport Minister Botcha Satyanarayana. “We will convene our general body meeting on Friday and call off our strike once we get a written assurance,” RTC employees’ union leaders said. GO 954 is intended to merge the RTC with the State government. This will ensure job security of 1.25 lakh staff post-division of the State.