Hyderabad: Employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) called off their 52-day-old strike on Monday, however, the management of the state-run bus service refused to take back its 48000-plus employees back to work, stating that they cannot go on strike as they please and then return to work.
Unions have asked all 48,000 workers to join duty on Tuesday morning, but by late evening on Monday police has increased their presence at bus depots to keep them out. Section 144 has also been imposed at all the depots.
Immediately after the strike was called off, the TSRTC management stated it would not take back workers until the labour court decided on the legality of the strike.
The TSRTC managing director also requested workers to not obstruct temporary workers at bus depots and added that the state government will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law.
Nearly 48,000 employees were on strike since October 5 to press for various demands including the merger of TSRTC with the government. About 1,500 employees later returned to duty in response to an appeal by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.
The longest strike in the history of RTC in the Telugu states saw the suicide of five employees while some others died of depression.
The JAC leaders alleged that the adamant stand of the government led to the death of 25 employees. The TSRTC has not paid salaries to the employees for September and October, causing distress to thousands of workers.
The chief minister not only rejected all the demands of the employees but claimed that they dismissed themselves by abstaining from work illegally. In a move further angering the employees, the government announced privatisation of 5,100 TSRTC routes. The High Court last week dismissed a petition challenging the government's decision.
Also, read: TSRTC staff end strike, management says can't take them back
