KSRTC has decided to finally clear the payment dues of July by August 22. The timing coincides with Onam. Previously, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) had declared a strike for 26 August, expressing their objection to the postponement of the distribution of owed salaries. A financial assistance package of Rs 30 crore for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was declared by the government.
A rough estimate indicates that about Rs 50 crore will be needed to settle all pending dues, and an additional Rs 20 crore is required to grant festive bonuses to employees, leading the KSRTC management to seek ways of generating funds for these purposes.
In a recent meeting with ministers KN Balagopal, V Sivankutty and Antony Raju, alongside employee union representatives, the state government has given approval to the unions’ requests, including distributing festival allowances, granting bonuses and offering salary advances. Union leaders had expressed their willingness to call off the strike if KSRTC clears all outstanding dues at one go by 22 August 2023.
Pensioners will start protesting from today onwards. On August 18, 19, and 20, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Pensioners Association had declared that there would be a continuous protest, day-and-night. They are demanding prompt pension distribution; the demonstration is scheduled to take place at the KSRTC bus depots in Kozhikode and Muvattupuzha, as well as at the Martyr’s Column in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram.
As per representatives of the Pensioners Association, for the last 12 years, KSRTC has not revised the pension payout. The present pension payments fall in the range of Rs 1,350 to Rs 10,000 only.
