After KSRTC Employees, Private Bus Operators To Go On Strike In Kerala From Nov 9 Due To Fuel Price Hike

The private buses in the state have announced an indefinite strike demanding an increase in ticket prices due to the surge in the price of fuel from November 9.

Private buses at a bus depot (Image for representation)

Chennai: After employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) held a two-day protest last week over various demands, including a pay rise, private bus operators in the state have now announced an indefinite strike from November 9, demanding an increase in ticket prices due to the surge in fuel prices. 

According to a report on Manorama, the Bus Owners Coordination Committee announced an indefinite strike demanding that the minimum charge of tickets to be increased to Rs 12, and that for students to Rs 6. They also asked the government to permit them to charge Re 1 for every additional kilometre. The committee also brought the issue to the notice of Kerala Transport Minister Antony Raju. 

Earlier, KSRTC employees went on a two-day protest in the state, which disrupted the normal life of passengers. The protest started on Thursday and continued till Friday, with several organisations, including the Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association and the All India Trade Union Congress, participating in the protest. The protestors mainly demanded that the government increase their wages that have not been revised for the last nine years. The corporation has 35,000 workers.

The association also said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier assured them of an increase in the wages, and that their increment should have come in June. The union members participated in large numbers even after the Kerala government announced that the salary of the employees participating in the protest will be deducted. 

The strike affected normal life in South Kerala, where more than 5000 KSRTC buses were halted due to the strike.