TGSRTC workers' union threatens hunger strike over unfulfilled demands

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGRTC) Staff & Workers Union (INTUC) has issued a warning to the state government, threatening to launch a mass hunger strike at Indira Park if long-pending workers' demands are not addressed immediately.

The union's General Secretary, K. Rajireddy, highlighted several critical concerns which prompted them to arrive at this decision of calling for a hunger strike. Some of the unresolved demands are Wage Revision, Union Recognition Denied, Unpaid Dues, and others.

“Despite Congress’s 2023 election promise, the 2021 wage revision remains unimplemented. The previous BRS regime abolished welfare committees and banned unions—a policy the Congress government has yet to reverse. The government claims to have sanctioned 3,038 posts, yet continues outsourcing drivers and conductors—a first in RTC’s history,” said Raji Reddy.

Workers also want a 100% increase in the 2017 wage revision allowances. They ask for immediate payment of 11 pending DAs from 2019 to 2024. Additionally, they seek arrears in bonds with 5-year interest. There is increased pressure on employees without job security or regularisation of temporary staff.

The Union demands immediate action. Some of the demands include forming a committee (with union representation) to draft RTC merger rules, withdrawing false police cases from the 2019 strike, stopping outsourcing and beginning regular recruitment, compensating families of deceased/medically unfit workers, reviewing wrongful terminations under the Mahalakshmi scheme and breath analyser disputes, and holding elections for RTC’s Credit Cooperative Society (CCS).

“If the government fails to respond, we will escalate to a mass hunger strike,” warned Rajireddy. The union has postponed protests earlier but now demands urgent dialogue.