Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Umesh Marpalli/Mounesh Vishwakarma

Bengaluru, Jul 25 (PTI): Normal life was affected today across Karnataka, including the IT capital here, with over one lakh employees of four state road transport corporations commencing an indefinite strike, seeking wage hike.

Bengaluru

Mangaluru

Udupi

Bantwal

As the employees struck work since last midnight, office- goers waiting at bus stops was a common sight across the city, while thousands who had come down to Bengaluru from different parts of the state were seen stranded at Kempegowda bus stand, the city's main bus terminal.

Commuters had started facing trouble since yesterday evening with drivers and conductors not turning up for work.

Similar reports have emerged from different parts of the state. Authorities in several districts have declared a holiday in schools and colleges.

More than one lakh employees of state transport corporations have gone on strike with about 41 demands, including a 35 per cent wage hike, while state government has offered 10 per cent increase.

Several rounds of reconciliatory meetings held between the management of state transport corporations and the unions, even at the level of Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, had failed with both sides sticking to their stand.

"We are still open for discussion with the unions. They have to come for discussion with an open mind. They will also have to understand the financial situation and reconsider their demand of 35 per cent wage hike. We are ready for discussion at the chief ministerial level," Reddy had said.|

KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation General Secretary and All India Trade Union Congress leader H V Anantha Subbarao said, "The unions are ready for a meeting with Chief Minister. Let him call a meeting. We feel sorry that public are suffering, but our concerns should also be addressed."

Meanwhile, stone pelting on buses was reported from different parts of the state like Hassan, Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Koppal and Chikkamagaluru.

Transport officials said alternative arrangements are being made by giving temporary contract carriage to private operators during the strike.

In the wake of the strike, public were depending on private and own vehicles for commuting even as several commuters complained that private transporters were overcharging.

Transport officials said they have begun crackdown of private transporters who are overcharging.

Earlier report

Transport unions firm on strike, KSRTC buses stay off roads

Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jul 25: The indefinite strike called by the KSRTC unions from Sunday midnight is on.

The union members have called for the state-wide strike demanding a hike in salary.

Though the strike was supposed to start at Sunday midnight, a large number of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses stayed off the roads, leaving several commuters stranded from the evening itself. Some union members damaged a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus at Richmond Circle and thrashed its staff.

The state government authorised deputy commissioners (DC) to take a decision on declaring a holiday based on the situation in their respective districts. While most of the districts have declared holiday for Monday and Tuesday, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts did not declare any holiday.

The Bangalore University has postponed the degree and postgraduate examinations, which were scheduled for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the city police have stepped up security to ensure that there are no untoward incidents.

Last minute appeal fails

The state government’s appeal to the protesting unions to call off the strike went unheard. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Give priority to public interest and give up the strike call. Consider the impact it will have on the students, poor and working class.” However, the transport unions refused to budge.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the government has not yet taken a decision whether to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma) against the striking employees.

“All the employees of the four state-run transport corporations are ready to go to jail in case the government decides to invoke Esma,” said H V Anantha Subbarao, general secretary, KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation.