A two-day strike by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees has been called off late Wednesday evening, thanks to a promise from the government to raise salaries. This development comes as a huge relief for travelers who were planning their journeys for the upcoming Ganesh festival.
Details of the Resolution
The strike, which began on Monday night, was ended after negotiations between the employees’ union leaders and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of MSRTC, agreed to a significant raise in the employees’ salaries. Each MSRTC staff member will receive an increase of ₹6,500 per month in their basic salary, starting from April 2020.
Union Leaders’ Response
Sandeep Shinde, a leader of the Maharashtra ST Kamgar Sanghtana, announced the end of the strike following the meeting with the Chief Minister. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are calling off our agitation as the chief minister has assured a salary hike to MSRTC employees.”
Another union leader, Shirang Barge, confirmed that the meeting took place at Sahyadri Guest House in South Mumbai. During this meeting, Chief Minister Shinde agreed to the ₹6,500 salary hike, addressing the primary concern of the employees.
Additional Agreements
State Industries Minister Uday Samant revealed that while the unions initially demanded a ₹7,000 hike, the government’s offer of ₹6,500 was accepted. Besides the salary increase, the government has also agreed to other demands from the trade unions, including:
- Providing clean toilets for women employees.
- Concretizing bus depots.
Impact on Passengers
The end of the strike is particularly timely as it coincides with the Ganesh festival, which begins on September 7. This festival period sees a surge in travel as people head to their hometowns to celebrate. The resolution of the strike means that passengers will have reliable transportation and can travel without the disruption caused by the strike.
Conclusion
The strike’s resolution brings a much-needed respite to MSRTC employees and passengers alike. With the salary hike and improvements in working conditions, the employees are likely to return to work with renewed motivation, ensuring smooth operations of the state-run transport services during the busy festival season.
