After Telangana RTC Strike, Karnataka Bus Unions Call Indefinite Strike From May 20

Days after a transport strike in Telangana disrupted services and was resolved following negotiations, a similar confrontation is now emerging in Karnataka, with transport workers’ unions announcing an indefinite statewide bus strike from May 20.

Notably, both states are governed by the Indian National Congress, and transport unions have increasingly linked their financial stress to welfare measures such as the free bus travel scheme for women , which has significantly increased ridership while putting pressure on transport corporations’ revenues.

The strike in Karnataka has been called by the joint action committee representing employees of the four state-run corporations, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) , Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) , North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) , and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) , raising concerns of widespread disruption.

Despite multiple rounds of talks with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, no agreement has been reached. Union leaders say the delay in resolving their demands, stretching nearly two and a half years, has forced them to take a firm stand.

At the centre of the dispute is the demand for a 25 per cent salary hike with retrospective effect from January 2024. The government has offered only a 7 per cent salary hike , proposed from April 1, 2025, which unions have rejected as inadequate.

Workers are also demanding payment of 26 months’ arrears amounting to Rs 1,272 crore in a single instalment, along with an increase in daily allowances and employee benefits , merger of dearness allowance with basic pay, and resolution of pending compensation issues.

Union leader Jyothi Ananthasubba Rao said that any inconvenience to the public due to the strike would be the government’s responsibility, citing delays in addressing workers’ concerns.

The developments mirror the recent Telangana RTC strike, where employees launched a large-scale protest over pay revision and multiple demands before calling it off after government assurances. That strike led to thousands of buses going off the roads, severely affecting commuters.

In Karnataka, unions argue that schemes like free travel for women , while beneficial socially, have added operational and financial strain on corporations if reimbursements are delayed or insufficient, further intensifying their demands for better pay and working conditions.