Public transport services across Karnataka are expected to face major disruption from Wednesday after employee unions representing the state-run road transport corporations decided to launch an indefinite strike over salary revision and pending dues.
The agitation involves workers from the four major government-operated transport corporations, who have been engaged in prolonged negotiations with the Karnataka government for the past several months demanding a 25 per cent salary hike along with clearance of pending wage-related arrears.
Union leaders claim employees are yet to receive dues linked to a period of nearly 26 months, making the issue increasingly sensitive among drivers, conductors and transport staff across the state.
Although the government reportedly agreed in principle to a salary revision, the dispute intensified over the implementation date. Labour unions insisted that the revised pay structure should be made effective from May 1, 2024, while discussions with the government failed to produce a final agreement.
Several rounds of negotiations with Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and later with the Labour Commissioner ended without a breakthrough, prompting the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of transport unions to confirm the strike decision.
JAC convener Jayadevaraje Urs said the latest conciliation meeting failed because officials attending the talks did not have authority to take final decisions on the workers’ key demands.
According to union representatives, the Labour Commissioner requested the unions to postpone the strike until May 25 and assured them that the government would examine their demands. However, employee representatives argued that verbal assurances alone would not be enough to convince workers to suspend the agitation.
Despite the strike announcement, union leaders have appealed to employees to remain peaceful and avoid street protests or confrontational demonstrations during the shutdown period.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has started preparing contingency measures to minimise disruption in transport services. Officials are reportedly considering deploying trainee drivers and making temporary operational arrangements if regular staff remain off duty.
Sources also indicated that the option of direct talks between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and union representatives is still open in an effort to prevent a prolonged transport crisis.
The strike is expected to significantly impact daily commuters, office workers, students and intercity passengers if no last-minute agreement is reached before Wednesday morning.
