Talks between the Karnataka government and the state transport unions collapsed on Monday, with no resolution reached over wage hikes and arrears payments, leaving the issue in a stalemate. While employees had threatened to go on strike from Tuesday, the protest has been temporarily deferred due to a scheduled court hearing the same day.
The main points of contention are the unions’ demand for a 25% wage hike on the current base pay of ₹1,124 and arrears for 38 months — a claim amounting to nearly ₹1,800 crore. The government, however, has offered to settle arrears for only 14 months and begin wage negotiations after the state assembly session. Union leaders rejected this proposal, insisting on a firm commitment to clear dues for the entire period worked and to begin wage discussions immediately.
KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation president HV Anantha Subbarao stressed that employees were not seeking any new financial benefit but merely what they were owed. He added that talks could continue during a strike, placing the onus on the government to act.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the unions' demand “unreasonable,” pointing to past decisions where wage hikes of 12.5% and 15% were already implemented. He cited financial distress across transport corporations, with collective debt ballooning to ₹4,000 crore from just ₹14 crore in 2018. He acknowledged the need for dialogue but urged all parties to act in the state’s larger financial interest.
The meeting was attended by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, corporation heads, and union representatives. While there will be no protest action on Tuesday, the impasse continues, and the unions have indicated that future decisions will hinge on the outcome of Tuesday’s court hearing.
