Bus Strike in Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Invites BMTC, KSRTC Workers for Talks

Shimogga: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has asked the worker unions of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to hold talks after the first round of talks between Karnataka government and union leaders failed on Friday.

CM Yediyurappa has said that Transport Minister Lakshman Savadi will help the BMTC and KSRTC employees to sort out their issues in a phase-wise manner to reach a middle ground.

BMTC and KSRTC workers have been on strike which has left scores of commuters in Bengaluru stranded. The strike has disrupted the bus services in Bengaluru and various parts of the state as many government buses did not ply on Thursday and Friday.

BMTC and KSRTC employees have been demanding government employee status and payment of their due salary.

The Transport workers want to be included in the government’s payroll and be provided with the same privileges and incentives as government employees do. They also demand compensation for employees who died during covid duty in the state.

BMTC, on the other hand, has asked Karnataka State Road Transport Workers’ Union to take strict action against workers who have been participating in the strike.

BMTC Director said that no long holiday will be given to any worker without his permission. The salary for Dec 10,11 is expected to be cancelled for those who took part in the protest.