KSRTC: Managements trying to reach out to staff

BANGALORE: With the standoff between the managements of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and KSRTC and employees’ unions continuing, union leaders are all set to go on strike on April 27 along with an estimated one lakh employees.However, management officials are making silent efforts at backdoor diplomacy to quell the unrest and ensure that operations are not affected.“We are trying to send the heads of departments to all depots in the city and have asked them to speak to the employees personally and take them into confidence,” said a senior BMTC official.Although the officials are trying to downplay the strike, it seems they have woken up finally and started visiting depots in order to remind workers of their job’s benefits.Another KSRTC official added: “We have been reassuring our employees for the last few days; our aim is to remind the staff of their employment perks such as job security, allowances and credit schemes that they are entitled to.We are also telling them that there are new heads leading the corporation now and that their issues will be discussed.” ‘Our Pleas Are Falling on Deaf Ears’However, the union leaders are adamant that their demands are falling on deaf years.“We will go on strike surely and services will get affected from 26 April afternoon,” said spokesperson for the consolidated committee that comprises the six state unions, K R Vijaykumar.However, the prevailing view among the management of an earlier protest by the KSRTC employees is that union leaders were goading the members to go on strike.“Even now, we do not expect more than 1,000 employees to join the protest.Nevertheless, we are taking precautions,” said a BMTC official