APPTD employees union to stage protests on July 4, 5 for resolution of pending issues

Andhra Pradesh Public Transport Department (APPTD) Employees Union on Tuesday urged the government to address their grievances on a priority basis.

The union leaders said that to build pressure on the authorities, they would stage protests on July 4 and 5 by attending duties wearing red badges and organising dharnas and gate meetings at all the depots across the State.

Addressing the State executive committee meeting of the union held at Vijayawada, the union’s State president P. Damodar Rao and general secretary G. V. Narasayya said that they submitted a representation to the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, drawing his attention to the issue of employees’ promotions, pending for last six years.

They said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should approve the same ensuring justice to 3,000 RTC employees. They also demanded immediate measures to fill around 11,000 vacant posts in the department, procurement of new buses and additional manpower for their smooth operation.

Pointing to the government’s promise on introduction of free bus travel scheme for women in the State from August 15 this year, they said induction of 2,000 buses in the RTC fleet and recruitment of 10,000 personnel was needed to be done immediately.

The Employees Union leaders also wanted immediate payment of the pending arrears for 24 months related to the 11^th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and Dearness Allowance (DA), gratuity and leave encashment of the retired and deceased employees.

They also opposed leasing out of APSRTC bus depots to private electric vehicle operators and demanded that the RTC staff be trained in operating electric vehicles.