RTC staff union calls strike today

Kochi: A section of employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will strike work on Monday, raising various demands, even as the management warned them of invoking the 'dies non' clause (no work no pay).

The INTUC-affiliated Transport Democratic Federation (TDF) has made the strike call demanding timely payment of salary, pay revision, disbursement of pending allowances and rolling out of new buses among others.

Though the management held talks with the TDF, one of the two approved trade unions, on Friday, the same turned out to be futile with union president Thampanoor Ravi refusing to budge and insisting on stir.

The protest is expected to hit the KSRTC services, especially ordinary and city services, on Monday with the union claiming a 30 per cent representation among the staff.

"Our demands also include introduction of a health insurance scheme for the staff, implement driver-cum-conductor system in long haul night services, allotment of ETM (Electronic Ticketing Machines), hike in wages of empanelled employees and recruitment of more staff," Mr Ravi said.

Meanwhile, the management made it clear that it would invoke the 'dies non' provision which means the staff who fails to report for duty will not be paid the day's salary.

"Such strikes will only hamper revival measures being adopted and cut down revenue collection. We'll pay all the pending dues this month itself," a senior KSRTC official said.