RTC Strike Ends After Successful Talks Between Government and Employees

The strike by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) employees ended following successful negotiations between the state government and employee unions . The agitation, which began on April 22 , was withdrawn around midnight after the government responded positively to key demands. With consensus reached on crucial issues such as the proposed merger of RTC with the government and wage revision , the three-day deadlock has been resolved, clearing the way for the restoration of transport services across the state.

RTC employees had launched an indefinite strike to press for long-pending demands, primarily the merger of RTC into the government , along with an 11% wage revision , job security, and the conduct of delayed union elections. The strike severely disrupted public transport, causing widespread inconvenience to commuters. In response, the government constituted a cabinet sub-committee and initiated talks with union representatives.

The discussions, which began on Friday morning, continued late into the night. Despite initial differences, both sides reached an agreement, with the government giving in-principle approval for the merger . A special committee comprising officials and union representatives will be formed to work out the implementation process. The development is being viewed as a significant milestone in the history of RTC .

In addition to the merger, the government approved the 11% pay revision demanded by employees. While acknowledging the financial burden on the corporation, officials stated that the decision was taken in the interest of employee welfare. The government also agreed to conduct pending union elections and assured resolution of other outstanding issues. Following these assurances, employees called off the strike and resumed duties.

The strike period was marked by a tragic incident that drew statewide attention. Shankar Goud (55) , a driver from the Narsampet depot in Warangal district , attempted self-immolation on April 23 during the protest and later succumbed to his injuries at a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad.

Tension prevailed in Muttojipet village when his body was brought there. Family members and RTC workers demanded that it be taken to the depot for tributes, but police denied permission citing law and order concerns. This led to clashes between protesters and police, creating a tense atmosphere.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay visited the village and paid his respects. He criticised the government over the handling of the situation and accused it of hurting workers’ sentiments. Following discussions, the last rites were conducted in the village as per the family’s wishes.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the incident and conveyed condolences to the family. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh , along with a house and a government job for one family member. He appealed to employees not to take extreme steps and assured that all issues would be addressed.

With the strike withdrawn, RTC services have returned to normal from Saturday, and all planned protest programmes between April 24 and 29 have been cancelled. The resumption of services has brought relief to commuters, while the proposed merger is expected to provide long-term stability to employees.

In a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka , Congress leaders said the government fulfilled key demands after nearly 15 hours of discussions . They criticised the previous administration for failing to resolve similar issues during a prolonged strike and accused the opposition of engaging in “corpse politics.” The party has called for statewide celebrations to highlight the government’s decisions and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening public transport, which serves as a lifeline for 6.5 million passengers daily .