Transport Workers to March 'Bengaluru Chalo' on January 29 Over Salary Arrears
KSRTC and state transport workers plan Bengaluru Chalo on January 29 over unpaid wages and pending revisions.
Employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and three other state-run transport bodies have announced a large-scale protest, dubbed ‘Bengaluru Chalo’, on January 29. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of KSRTC workers’ unions accused the state government of ignoring their long-pending demands, including salary arrears and overdue wage revisions.
Union leaders said transport employees have not received pay dues for the last 38 months, and the wage revision due from January 1, 2024, remains unimplemented. JAC member Jayadevaraj Urs told ETV Bharat that repeated rounds of dialogue with the government failed to yield any concrete outcome, leaving workers with no alternative but to escalate their agitation.
The protest will be held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru from 10 am to 4 pm, and union representatives have assured it will remain peaceful. Committee members H V Anantasubba Rao, B Jayadeva Arasu, H D Revappa, V Somanna, Jagadish H R, and Rajendra Gowda G K have jointly called on transport workers to participate in large numbers to draw the government’s attention to the unresolved issues.
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While no official strike has been declared, unions warned that continued government inaction could disrupt public transport services across Karnataka. A one-day disruption, they noted, could significantly affect daily commuters, adding urgency to their demands for immediate resolution of salary and wage issues.
The unions emphasized that past protests have often been met with legal notices and warnings, but mounting financial stress among employees has left them with limited options. They urged the government to respond promptly to prevent escalation. Authorities and commuters are closely monitoring the situation as January 29 approaches, with both the transport department and workers preparing for a high-profile showdown in the state capital.
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