The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is being merged with the government, which has raised concerns among employees. They are worried about losing their demands for pay scales and pensions. The government has already used the pension and gratuity fund, but it has not been deposited into the employees’ accounts. There are also concerns about the protection of valuable properties once the RTC is taken over.
The TSRTC had been facing losses for many years but managed to increase its revenue recently. However, with the announcement of the merger, employees are unsure of what will happen next. The 43,000 employees who have been demanding pay scales may lose their balances after the merger.
The TSRTC was established in 2016 after the bifurcation of the state. It was the first road transport corporation in the country, with 27 buses and 166 workers. After the merger, workers may lose their right to strike and face problems with salary and allowances since some positions in the RTC are not available in the government.
There are concerns that the corporation’s healthcare support for employees may come to a halt after the merger. Trade union leaders want to take appropriate measures to address these problems. In the neighboring state, APSRTC has already merged its staff, but the corporation remains unaffected. There is a possibility that funds from the central government may stop if the corporation is merged in Telangana.
The government has announced that a committee will be set up to discuss the merger of RTC employees. The TSRTC Managing Director expressed gratitude to the government for recognizing the hard work of the staff and bringing light into the lives of 43,000 families.
Currently, the corporation earns an average monthly income of Rs 471 crore and spends Rs 251 crore on salaries, PF share payments, and pensions. The TSRTC has a total of 9,181 buses, covering an average of Rs 32.59 lakh km per day.
Despite the concerns, the RTC Employees’ Union is confident that the government will provide assistance to overcome losses. They are relieved to know that there will be no problems with salaries and job security, even in difficult situations. The union played a vital role in advocating for the employees’ demands and considers this merger a victory.
