MSRTC workers call off their strike after CM Shinde assures pay hike

MSRTC workers had been on a strike for two day. Pic/Ashish Raje

Two days after their agitation, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) workers on Wednesday evening called off their strike after Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's assurance, the officials said.

The Trade unions representing Maharashtra transport corp employees decide to call off strike on CM's pay hike assurance, the Union leaders said.

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"CM Shinde also assured agitating workers action committee that a rise of Rs 6,500 in basic salary will be done," an official said.

The strike by MSRTC employees had on Wednesday entered its second day, severely disrupting services and causing inconvenience to millions of passengers from the state including in the Mumbai division, especially with the upcoming Ganeshotsav 2024.

According to an official statement, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a salary increase of Rs 6,500 per month for employees of the MSRTC. The decision, which applies from April 2020, was made during a meeting held on Wednesday.

The announcement was welcomed by the ST Employees' Action Committee, which thanked the Chief Minister for addressing their demands. However, Chief Minister Shinde expressed strong discontent over the timing of the recent strike by ST employees, which had caused significant inconvenience to the public during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The meeting took place at the Sahyadri Guest House and was chaired by CM Shinde. It was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Industries Minister Uday Samant, and several other key officials and lawmakers, including the Chief Minister's Additional Chief Secretaries Dr. I.S. Chahal and Vikas Kharge, Transport Department Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Sethi, Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary O.P. Gupta, and ST Corporation Managing Director Madhav Kusekar, the statement said.

During the meeting, CM Shinde criticized the strike, stating that it was inappropriate to disrupt services during a festival period. He highlighted that the government is committed to addressing the employees' concerns but expects better timing and conduct from the unions.

CM Shinde also directed the preparation of a plan to improve the condition of restrooms for drivers and conductors at various depots. He urged the employees to work towards increasing the ST corporation's revenue.

Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis suggested that the ST corporation should implement a health insurance scheme similar to the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana to cover medical expenses for employees, the statement said.