KSRTC employees strike withdrawn

KOCHI: CITU-affiliated Kerala State Transport Employees Association’s (KSRTEA) plans to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday midnight was withdrawn following a meeting convened by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials with the agitating employees.Earlier, the association had alleged that the KSRTC officials were not paying heed to their demands.“The officials said they would consider our biggest demand was the implementation the new schedule,” said T P Venu, District Secretary, CITU. However, sources allege that a major section of the association was not in the favour of the  agitation announced by the leaders. The problem of delayed schedule kick-started when six Volvo bus drivers challenged the new schedule prepared by KSRTC at the High Court. The petitioners alleged that their names were not in the new list of Volvo drivers and it was prepared in favour of the CITU loyalists.Ernakulam Zonal Officer P L Jose said that KSRTC would take a stand in favour of the CITU at the High Court as their demands were reasonable. “Seniority has always been a matter of concern within KSRTC. We cannot do anything bypassing the norms on seniority. The case is likely to come up before the High Court after May 20. There after, we will implement a schedule as directed by the High Court,” he added. However, the KSRTC officials were not willing to discuss the other demands raised by KSRTEA including the immediate completion of the works conducted by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd at the berthing depot of the KSRTC Ernakulam depot. Ernakulam Zonal Officer P L Jose, ATO K Gopalakrishnan, Administrative Officer Ibrahim and Depot Engineer Vinod Baby were present at the meeting. Representatives of CITU, AITUC and TDS also took part in the discussions.