VIJAYAWADA: Members of National Mazdoor Union (NMU), a recognised body in AP State Road Transport Corporation (RTC), met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and submitted a memorandum appealing him to direct the RTC management to implement the new pay scale which was supposed to be in effect from April 1, 2017.
“The employees are facing hardships due to delay in the implementation of new pay scale, which was supposed to be implemented from April 1, 2017. They are receiving 19 percent less wages compared to the State Government employees,” NMU State president C Chandraiah told TNIE. Naidu has given assurance to implement the new pay scale for the employees after convening a meeting with the transport minister K Atchannaidu, and APSRTC vice chairman and managing director NV Surendra Babu, he added.
In their memorandum, the NMU leaders also appealed the chief minister to reimburse the Rs 450 crore loss incurred by the corporation in 2017-18 due to the operation of 5,600 Palle Velugu services in the State, exemption of Motor Vehicle Tax for a period of five years, and housing facility and white ration cards for the employees or retired staff in the corporation.
Responding to the pleas made by the union, CM said that directions will be given to the Civil Supplies Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao to take necessary steps and to ensure white ration cards for the eligible. Housing facility will be provided to the employees on pilot basis at Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram Zone), Jaggayyapet (Vijayawada Zone), and Rapur (Nellore Zone), he said. The project will be taken on a priority basis, he added.