Gandhinagar: The common forum representing three unions of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation(GSRTC) employees late in the evening today agreed to end the mass casual leave strike agitation.

GSRTC bus operations will resume with effect from 4.00 am on Saturday.

Over 40,000 employees of loss making govt unit were on strike seeking 7th pay panel benefits. The government however was of opinion that loss making PSUs must not be availed 7th pay panel benefits. GSRTC union leaders however argued that same party’s government had in the past availed them benefits of 5th and 6th pay panels, then why not 7th pay panel benefits? The staffers on strike had also argued that GSRTC could be profitable unit if Rs. 1100 crore payment pending with govt. was paid.

Late in the evening after a meeting with Transport minister and State BJP president among others, the employees union representatives were given written assurance regarding in-principle acceptance of their demand. Following this, they declared their strike over.

General Secretary of union said, “as per direct instruction of Chief Minister and Dy CM and mediation of state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, a meeting was held chaired by transport minister RC Faldu. The government has accepted our pending demands including implementation of 7th pay panel. The government has given us in writing that our demands are accepted in-principle and good decision will arrive in favor of drivers, conductors and fix-wage employees within a week.”

DeshGujarat