Telangana RTC strike: Unions want govt to hold talks

A day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao set November 5 as the deadline for TSRTC workers to give up their stir and join duty, the employees' unions on Sunday insisted that the Telangana government first hold talks to resolve the issue.

With the indefinite strike over a slew of demands entering the 30th day, TSRTC-JAC leader EAshwathamaReddy said the Chief Minister could not instil confidence among workers, rather he was "trying to provoke" them.

"Talks should first be held to resolve the issue. It could be a committee of ministers or RTC management... but Chief Minister is seeking to dictate terms to courts and taking unilateral decisions. Nobody has the right to remove anyone from jobs," Reddy told reporters here.

Rao had on Saturday said the state cabinet decided to allot 5,100 of 10,400 routes to private operators and warned that the other routes would also be given to them if those on strike don't join duty by the midnight of November 5.

"If 5,100 routes are privatised, then 27,000 staff are required. Why did he (Rao) not talk about the remaining 23,000 staff? What will be the future of those 23,000 people? If the number of depots is halved from 90 to 45, what will be the fate of depot managers?" Reddy asked.

Expressing willingness to wind up the unions if their demands were conceded, Reddy said, "first discuss on demands should be held."