BENGALURU: KSRTC managing director Shivayogi Kalasad on Wednesday stirred controversy with a proposal to send most of its employees on leave without pay for a year to reduce operational costs.
Kalasad has written to all other state-run bus corporations — BMTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC — seeking their opinion on the proposal. KSRTC is the parent organisation under which the other three state-run bus corporations function.
Many employees are worried. “It’s unfair to force us to go on leave without pay or incentives for a year. Our staff, including drivers and conductors, are risking their lives and reporting to duty during this pandemic. The management should think of innovative solutions to reduce losses instead of these anti-worker policies,” said a state transport undertaking staff.
However, a senior KSRTC official said it will be optional. “We will not force anyone to go on leave; those who want to pursue higher studies or are suffering from health issues could take this option,” he said.
However, many employees said it is not practical. “Who will go for higher studies or avail leave without pay during this pandemic,” asked one staffer.
Earlier, both KSRTC and BMTC had asked employees aged over 50 and those with comorbidities to go on leave.
HV Ananta Subbarao, president of KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation, said: “This is unconstitutional and anti-worker policy. While they are claiming it is optional, they will intentionally force employees to go on leave without pay.”
The four transport corporations have been struggling to pay salaries due to poor ridership post-Covid-19.
Kalasad has written to all other state-run bus corporations — BMTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC — seeking their opinion on the proposal. KSRTC is the parent organisation under which the other three state-run bus corporations function.
Many employees are worried. “It’s unfair to force us to go on leave without pay or incentives for a year. Our staff, including drivers and conductors, are risking their lives and reporting to duty during this pandemic. The management should think of innovative solutions to reduce losses instead of these anti-worker policies,” said a state transport undertaking staff.
However, a senior KSRTC official said it will be optional. “We will not force anyone to go on leave; those who want to pursue higher studies or are suffering from health issues could take this option,” he said.
However, many employees said it is not practical. “Who will go for higher studies or avail leave without pay during this pandemic,” asked one staffer.
Earlier, both KSRTC and BMTC had asked employees aged over 50 and those with comorbidities to go on leave.
HV Ananta Subbarao, president of KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation, said: “This is unconstitutional and anti-worker policy. While they are claiming it is optional, they will intentionally force employees to go on leave without pay.”
The four transport corporations have been struggling to pay salaries due to poor ridership post-Covid-19.
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