Karnataka Bus Employees On Strike, Commuters Caught Unawares

The Karnataka government has said it will not be meeting their demands, while appealing to the employees not to go on strike.

Workers of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, or KSRTC, began an indefinite strike this morning, demanding wage revisions. The Karnataka government has said it will not be meeting their demands, while appealing to the employees not to go on strike. Chandrashekar, state president of KSRTC Employees League, told NDTV, "Our main demand is to implement the sixth pay commission for state transport employees." "We want what the government assured us of last December. The minister is not agreeing to give the sixth pay commission. But we are also not leaving. We need the sixth pay commission. We will not call off the strike till that assurance comes." Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa called on striking employees to get back to work. He also alleged that "selfish motives" of some people were behind the strike. "We have fulfilled 8 of their (workers') nine demands, despite this they are adamant and have stopped buses, and are creating trouble for the public. I appeal to them, get back to work, we can talk," Mr Yedirurappa said.