KSRTC Directs Employees To Avoid May 20 Strike, Cites Essential Services Law
Transport unions demand salary hikes and arrears as KSRTC moves to prevent disruption of statewide bus services.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has issued a strong warning to employees against participating in the indefinite statewide strike called by transport workers’ unions from May 20, stating that strict disciplinary action will be taken against those remaining absent from duty. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the state-run transport corporations and employee unions over pending demands related to salaries and service conditions.
In an official circular issued on Monday, KSRTC stated that transport services fall under the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act and are also classified as a Public Utility Service, making strikes legally impermissible. The corporation directed all staff members to report for duty without fail and cautioned employees that participation in the proposed strike would attract “No Work, No Pay” provisions along with disciplinary proceedings under existing service regulations.
The corporation has also instructed senior officials and depot managers not to sanction leave requests except in unavoidable situations. Authorities have been directed to ensure that bus schedules and transport operations continue without disruption during the proposed strike period. KSRTC management said contingency measures are being implemented to maintain uninterrupted public transport services across Karnataka in the event of large-scale employee absenteeism.
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The indefinite strike has been called by the Joint Action Committee of transport workers’ unions, which has been demanding a 25 per cent salary hike, settlement of pending wage arrears, and improvements in employee welfare and service conditions. Union leaders have accused the state government of delaying discussions on long-pending issues affecting workers across the state’s transport corporations.
The unions have issued a deadline to the Karnataka government, demanding that their concerns be addressed by the afternoon of May 19. Failing that, employees of all four state-run transport corporations — KSRTC, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) — are expected to join the strike from May 20. Union representatives have also announced a “stay-at-home” protest, urging employees to remain indoors and refuse to report for work.
If the strike proceeds as planned, public transport services across Karnataka are likely to face severe disruptions, affecting lakhs of daily commuters who depend on state-run buses for travel within cities and between districts. The development has raised concerns over commuter inconvenience and operational challenges, particularly in Bengaluru and other major urban centres where public transport forms a crucial part of daily mobility.
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