Hyderabad: Hyderabad DCC president Syed Khalid Saifullah urged workers to end the RTC employees strike and resume services, stating that the government had addressed most demands.
He met Telangana State Road Transport Corporation employees at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station on Friday. During the interaction, he appealed for dialogue and asked unions to act in the public interest.
According to him, the government had accepted 29 out of 32 demands. Therefore, officials could resolve most issues without delay. However, he noted that merger and union recognition required further discussion.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that a four-member high-level committee was already examining pending matters. This, he said, reflected the government’s intent to resolve concerns through a structured process.
RTC employees strike impact on public and finances
Khalid Saifullah highlighted steps taken to improve employee welfare. For instance, salaries are now paid on the first of every month. In addition, authorities cleared PRC and DA dues.
He also noted that the government settled 2013 bonds and reduced PF dues from ₹1,205 crore to about ₹600 crore. Similarly, CCS liabilities dropped from ₹690 crore to nearly ₹300 crore. As a result, financial stability has improved.
Furthermore, the government pays ₹75 crore every month to clear dues. At the same time, recruitment of 4,538 employees is underway to reduce workload.
Authorities have already provided 1,134 compassionate appointments and reinstated around 250 employees. Thus, he described the approach as both corrective and humane.
However, he warned that the RTC employees strike could disrupt recovery efforts. Notably, RTC serves nearly 65 lakh passengers daily, including about 45 lakh women.
Many commuters depend on buses for work, education, and healthcare. Therefore, he said the ongoing strike was causing hardship to vulnerable sections.
Meanwhile, he criticised opposition parties for fuelling unrest. He alleged that certain statements had increased tensions among workers.
Finally, he urged employees to avoid extreme steps and follow democratic methods. He also expressed condolences over the death of driver Shankar Goud and assured support to his family.
He reiterated that dialogue remained the only viable solution. Accordingly, he appealed to unions to call off the RTC employees strike and restore services.
