The state government on Wednesday announced an increase of Rs 6,500 in the basic salary, to be effective from April 2020, of employees of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which has led to the unions withdrawing the strike ahead of Ganesh festival. The unions had called the strike from Tuesday.
Representatives of ST unions held a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday night regarding the strike. After the meeting, Industries Minister Uday Samant said, “The government held discussion with the unions who had demanded a hike of Rs 7,000. The government agreed to a hike of Rs 6,500, which the unions accepted and thereupon they have withdrawn the strike.”
The CMO issued a statement saying that the hike of Rs 6,500 in the basic salary will be effective from April 2020.
The strike by employees for a hike in salary and other demands entered the second day on Wednesday, and had continued to cripple transport services causing inconvenience to lakhs of passengers, especially ahead of the Ganesh festival.
The employees had demanded a parity of salary with state government employees, seeking a pay scale adjustment to match that of their counterparts in the state sector.
MSRTC officials, too, confirmed on Thursday late night that the ongoing strike has been called by their employees’ union following assurance from the government led by CM Eknath Shinde during a meeting. Since the strike has been called off, late night bus services will resume service to cater to commuters especially due to the Ganesh festival starting September 7.
The strike that continued till Tuesday evening, caused significant disruption across the state, resulting in the cancellation of 27,470 out of 40,069 planned trips, representing a 70 per cent service reduction. MSRTC reported a loss of nearly Rs 22 crore due to the strike.
The impact was particularly severe in the Marathwada and Khandesh regions. Of the 251 depots, 94 were completely closed, while 92 others operated with reduced services.
The strike, which began at the start of Ganeshotsav festival, caused considerable inconvenience to travelers heading to Konkan and other destinations. Several passengers experienced delays or were forced to return home due to lack of available bus services.
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