THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions, in a statement issued on April 14, has extended full support to the ongoing strike by the state transport workers in Karnataka (KSRTC) demanding immediate settlement of their long-overdue wage revision. The workers and their unions made all efforts to resolve the issue through more than a year long persuasion with the concerned authorities and the state government. But nothing happened owing to the negative approach of the authorities concerned towards the genuine and legitimate demands of the workers which compelled them to go in for the strike action.

Most unfortunately, the BJP government and the concerned authorities of KSRTC run by the government, instead of resolving the issues through bipartite dialogue/negotiations with the striking workers and the unions, have resorted to repressive measures to break the strike and victimising the workers in an authoritarian manner. Prohibitory orders against the strike have been imposed and different sections of workers throughout the state are being threatened with victimisation and also private transport agencies are being sought to be utilised to break the strike. But no initiative has been taken either by the KSRTC management or the government to initiate discussions on the legitimate demands of the workers for resolving the long pending periodical wage revision.

Workers, trade unions and the people at large in Karnataka have extended support to the striking workers which is being demonstrated through solidarity agitations by the trade unions and democratic people at large in every district of the state.

CITU has demanded the chief minister of the state to intervene urgently to ensure that all prohibitory/repressive/vindictive actions are withdrawn and also initiative is taken to open discussions with the striking workers and their organisations with a positive approach to resolve the issues to the satisfaction of all concerned.