After making the commuters suffer for more than a week in both the States, the employees of Road Transport Corporation on Wednesday withdrew their strike after the Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh gave in to their wage revision demand.
After the protracted negotiations by the Cabinet sub-committees of the two States, both the sides reached an agreement. The Telangana Government sprung a pleasant surprise on the Telangana Mazdoor Union by offering them 44 per cent fitment, one per cent more than the demand of the employees.
On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh Government agreed to pay 43 per cent fitment making the wages of RTC employees on par with the other employees of the Government.
The Telangana Government achieved a break through after the Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, took the matter in his hands and held talks with the representatives of Telangana Mazdoor Union — the representative of the RTC employees on his State.
KCR announced that the new fitment will come into effect from June. While half of the increased wages will be paid in cash, other half will be in the form of bonds.
On the other hand, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and RTC Employees Union reached an agreement on Wednesday after Minister Achan Naidu held talks with the union leaders. “Our talks have proved fruitful and the RTC employees have agreed to withdraw the strike as Government has accepted their demand for 43 per cent fitment”, the minister said. But he ruled out any immediate hike in the bus fares. The decision will put an additional burden of Rs936 crore on Andhra Government exchequer.
The Andhra Government came down from its stand and agreed to pay 43 per cent fitment. The change came within hours of Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu ruling out that such a high revision in the pay on the ground will put a huge financial burden on the State and will lead to hike in the bus fares.