Nagpur/Mumbai: Drivers and conductors of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) withdrew their state-wide strike on Wednesday after the State Government announced an increase of Rs 6,500 in basic salary from April 2020. Representatives of the striking employees held a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday night.
After the meeting, Industries Minister Uday Samant said, “The Government held discussion with the unions. They had demanded a hike of Rs 7,000. The Government accepted a hike of Rs 6,500. They accepted it and withdrew the strike.” A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said the hike of Rs 6,500 in basic salary will be effective from April 2020.
Earlier, as the strike entered its second day on Wednesday, private buses in increased fares, charging almost 50 percent more from passengers. The surge in price came at a time when passengers ranging from students to workers were travelling back to their hometowns with the Ganesh festival on September 7.
“The Government has agreed to increase our monthly salary by Rs 6,500 with effect from April 2020, which is a historical decision. So, we have withdrawn the strike,” said Mukesh Tigote, General Secretary, Maharashtra ST Workers Congress, one of the 11 participating unions.
The meeting between the Chief Minister and union representatives was held at Sahyadri, the State Guest House, in Mumbai. It was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Industries Minister Uday Samant, legislators Sadabhau Khot and Gopichand Padalkar who are associated with trade unions, and various officials.
The Chief Minister reprimanded the employees for launching an agitation and inconveniencing lakhs of people ahead of the Ganpati festival, but agreed to some of their other demands such as upgradation of restrooms at bus depots and medical assistance for all employees.
The strike, which commenced on Tuesday, was observed throughout the day on Wednesday. Out of the 251 MSRTC bus depots across the state, 94 were completely shut, while 92 were partially operational and 65 were fully functional, an MSRTC spokesperson said in the evening. The transport authority was able to operate over 60% of the scheduled trips during the day despite 70% of its fleet remaining off road, the spokesperson noted, pegging the revenue loss due to the stir at Rs 22 crore.
