MSRTC to cut four days’ pay of employees, not 36, for going on strike

MSRTC buses remain parked at the Shivajinagar depot during the strike. Arul Horizon

Unlike what was announced on Monday, the employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) who had staged a strike earlier this month will not receive their salaries for the four days of the strike, and not 36 days. On Monday, an MSRTC circular had stated that the salaries of each employee for 36 days — to compensate for the loss incurred by the transport body during the strike — would be deducted. The circular had stated that salary of 32 days was meant to compensate for the loss. The total amount was to be deducted by cutting salaries of four days every month till the 36 days were covered. The move was met with resistance from the employees.

“Considering the financial situation of the employees, we have agreed to revoke the earlier proposal. We will only deduct the salaries of employees for the four days they staged the strike,” Transport Minister Diwakar Raote said on Tuesday.

The employees had gone on strike during Diwali demanding higher salaries.