Finally, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced 43 percent fitment to RTC employees on Wednesday and it will come into effect from June onwards.
Minister Achennaidu has announced that the RTC employees’ eight days strike came to an end today. The representatives of RTC Unions and Ministers from Andhra Pradesh convened a joint press meet. Speaking on this occasion, Achennaidu said that the talks with RTC Unions were successful.
It is known that the salaries are to be revised from April 1, 2013. So the 43 per cent hike is to be counted from that date itself. But the government said that it cannot afford to pay the arrears at this moment.
Regarding the arrears, again a small conflict arose with the unions. Explaining about the situation, Minister Achennaidu said that RTC runs in to a loss of Rs.900 crores with the present hike itself. He said that if the past arrears are also counted, the loss would be another Rs.1108 crores, and hence pleaded with them to compromise on the issue.
The Minister assured that all the arrears would be paid at the time of retirement of the employees, when the situation turned worse across the table.
The employees who are already retired will be paid their arrears on Dussehra and Diwali till date. The officials specified that, though the AP government is facing huge financial crisis, it still managed to declare the hike, keeping the welfare of the RTC employees in mind.
After the announcement of 43 percent fitment by the government, the Employees Unions have expressed their joy. Employees Union (EU) leader Padmakar thanked the government for the positive response.
Employee dies in Kadapa district
RTC employee from Kadapa district died after the announcement of 43 percent fitment by Andhra Pradesh government and 44 percent by Telangana government. Reasons for the employee’s death were yet to be known. (NSS)