MSRTC issues termination notice to 2,300 daily wage workers for not reporting on duty

Sources in the government said that it has decided to take strict action against the MSRTC personnel.

Efforts by the corporation and the government to end the strike have failed to distract the workers from their demand for merger of MSRTC with the state government.

Sources said that now the corporation has started taking strict steps.

At present, the corporation has around 2,600 daily wage workers and some 2,300 termination notices have been issued. These employees were given an ultimatum to come to work within 24 hours, but they did not do so.

“In the corporation, there are temporary hired employees who are paid on day-to-day basis. A show cause notice has been issued to him. We expected these workers to come to work, but they joined the strike. Hence, we have sent a notice to them and further action will be decided later,” said an official.

MSRTC employees are demanding merger so that they can be treated as government employees and can avail the salary and benefits that government employees are getting.

Sources said that it has decided to take strict action, as the employees of MSRTC are not yielding to their demand for merger despite the government’s continuous efforts to resolve their issues.

“We have given them various options – to bring in the same pay as government employees – but they are adamant on the demand for merger, which has huge financial implications. Hence, we have decided to take strict action against them and termination notices have been issued accordingly.

On Wednesday, around 7,400 employees reported to work and by 4 pm, MSRTC was able to operate 103 buses and transport 2,756 passengers.

All these buses are leased vehicles.

The source further said that with the issuance of termination notice, some MSRTC employees are likely to resume their duties. “We will also provide security to the employees,” the source said.