Ahead of PM visit HRTC employees call off strike

Shimla: Around 4500 drivers of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), who had threatened to go on a state wide from May 30 onwards, called off their plans after the state government agreed to their demands on Friday.
Consultations were held at state Secretariat last evening between Transport Minister Vikram Thakur and State Driver Unions President Mann Singh where it was decided to end the stalemate.
The HRTC management accepted both the main demands of the employees in the meeting as state assured the drivers that new pay scale to HRTC Employees would be released with the salary of June 2022 and it would also release of 35 months pending over time dues to HRTC drivers and conductors with effect from July 2022.
The Minister promised the union to release two months overtime dues together with the salary of employees so that pendency of overtime could be overcome. Earlier on May 24 the talk between HRTC management and Union failed as the two could not resolve the differences.
It is worthwhile to mention that HRTC union had given a call to go on ‘Kam Chhordo’ strike from the night ending on May 29 ahead Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s Shimla visit.
The state government was under tremendous pressure to thaw the deadlock immediately as a number of buses were booked by the ruling party to ferry the party workers to Shimla from all over the state for the May 31 rally at Ridge ground. (UNI)