May 20 Transport Strike: Karnataka State Bus Services to Halt Statewide as KSRTC, BMTC Strike Looms

The Karnataka transport strike called from May 20 could bring BMTC, KSRTC and other state-run bus services to a halt across the state as transport employees intensify protests against the Karnataka government's recent transport salary hike decision. The proposed statewide transport strike comes after unions rejected the government's 12.50 percent wage revision announcement and warned that employees will not report to work unless their demands are fulfilled.

The Joint Action Committee of transport organisations has strongly opposed the Karnataka government's decision, alleging that the transport salary hike was announced without proper consultation with workers and staff representatives. Union leaders said transport employees have been demanding a 25 percent wage revision along with retrospective implementation from January 1, 2024.

However, the government has reportedly issued an order making the revised salary structure applicable only from 2025, triggering strong opposition among transport workers. According to unions, the current order would lead to major financial losses for lakhs of employees across Karnataka's transport corporations as workers would lose arrears and related benefits for the 2024 period.

Which Corporations Are Involved?

The Karnataka transport strike is expected to impact services operated by

Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC),

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC),

North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and

Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

What Are The Demands Behind The Karnataka Transport Strike?

• Demanding 25% wage revision: Employees are demanding a 25 percent salary hike for workers across BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC.
• Retrospective implementation from Jan 1, 2024: Unions want the revised salary structure to be implemented from January 1, 2024, instead of 2025.
• 12 months arrears: Transport employees are seeking payment of 12 months pending arrears along with the revised wages.
• Pending ₹513.08 crore arrears: The committee claimed the government still owes ₹513.08 crore linked to the previous 15 percent wage revision period.
• Full arrears for 2020 period: Workers alleged the government refused to pay arrears for 2020 citing the Covid-19 pandemic and are now demanding complete payment.
• Parity with 7th Pay Commission hike: Employees want salary revision similar to the 27.5 percent hike granted to other state government employees under the 7th Pay Commission.
• Merge dearness allowance with basic pay: Unions have demanded that the existing 31 percent dearness allowance be merged with the basic salary.
• Revision of annual increments: Transport workers are seeking revised annual increments as per their January 25, 2024 charter of demands.
• New pay scale structure: The committee wants the government to introduce a revised pay scale for transport employees.
• Increase in driver allowances: Employees have demanded higher daily allowances and additional benefits for drivers and staff.
• Discussion on pending demands: The unions have asked the government to resolve Form-4 related issues and other pending employee demands within one month.

Union representatives have warned that buses will remain off the roads across Karnataka from May 20 if the government fails to revise its order and initiate fresh negotiations. If the Karnataka transport strike proceeds, lakhs of daily commuters, office-goers and students dependent on public transport services could face severe disruption across Bengaluru and several districts.

At the same time, transport organisations said they remain open to discussions with the government. The unions stated that they are willing to hold talks if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah personally intervenes and invites employee representatives for negotiations.

The Joint Action Committee has now urged the Karnataka government to address pending demands immediately and prevent a large-scale transport strike that could disrupt bus services statewide.