RTC Employees Announce Indefinite Strike Starting August 5

Quick Summary

• Employees of four State road transport corporations in Karnataka have announced an indefinite agitation starting August 5, demanding the release of pending wage arrears tied to the 2024 wage revision.
• The Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Noukarara Mahamandala accused the government of failing to implement a promised 15% wage revision retrospectively from 2019, despite issuing an official order in 2023.
• The COVID-19 pandemic reportedly delayed the implementation of wage revisions scheduled every four years; arrears from the prior period (2016-2019) remain unpaid.
• The Chief Minister recently stated that it would not be feasible to pay past arrears or implement revised wages for 2024, leading employees to resort to protest action.
• Leaders claimed that while celebrating milestones like “500 crore free rides” under initiatives like the Shakti scheme, the government ignored employees’ contributions and demands for ₹3,000 crore compensation owed by transport corporations.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The impending strike underscores growing tensions between Karnataka’s State government and its road transport sector workforce. Wage discrepancies and delays appear compounded by fiscal strains brought on by large-scale public welfare programs like the Shakti scheme. This highlights a common challenge faced by governments-balancing progressive schemes with timely fulfillment of employee entitlements. Failure to address these grievances could disrupt transportation services and strain public perception regarding labor policies. Effective negotiations are essential not only for resolving immediate concerns but also for maintaining industrial harmony within critical public service sectors.

Read more: Published – july 24, 2025