ANDHRA PRADESH STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION

Office of the Managing Director,

Mushirabad, Hyderabad - 20.

No. IR1/781(6)/97-PO(IV)

CIRCULAR NO.PD-68/1997, DATE 25.09.1997

Sub:-    STRIKES -Strike Notice served by APSRTC National Mazdoor Union for 2 days on 29.09.1997 & 30.09.1997 - Instructions - Issued.

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           The General Secretary, APSRTC National Mazdoor Union has served a Strike Notice  proposing to call on  Strike for 2 days on or after 05.09.1997 for settlement of certain demands viz., Revision of Pay Scales Payment of Ex-gratia for the year 1996-97 to all the employees with out ceiling limit on wage and to curb illicit operations.

        A Negotiating Committee has been constituted for the purpose of negotiations on Wage Revision with the recognized APSRTC National Mazdoor Union in pursuance to the Charter of Demands submitted by them much before the Strike Notice and a series of discussions were also held with the Union.  During the negotiation meetings as well as Conciliation meetings, the Union was informed that the recent hike in diesel prices will create an additional financial burden on the Corporation to a tune of Rs. 116 Cores. On the other hand, the demands of the Union are worked out to Rs.394 Cores in addition to the present wage bill of Rs.716 Cores.  Further it was also informed that the Corporation planned to purchase about 2000 new vehicles during the financial year 1997-98.  During the discussions of the Union have marginally reduced their demand to a tune of 330 Crores.

        As regards payment of Ex-gratia for the year 1996-97 to all employees without ceiling limits, the Union was informed that there is no subsisting agreement for payment of ex-gratia to ineligible employees ie., whose Basic Pay + DA is more than Rs.3,500/- per month.  It has also been explained to the Union that the present financial position of APSRTC do not permit even to consider this demand of the Union.

        As regards curbing of illegal operations of private buses and other vehicles on nationalized routes, it was informed to the Union that the Corporation is making all out efforts with the cooperation of Transport Department to curb the illicit operations and parking of private buses vehicles near the Bus Stations of Corporation.

        On the above Strike Notice the Commissioner of Labour and State conciliation Officer convened meetings and the last conciliation meeting was held on 16.09.1997 and adjourned to 29.09.1997.  However, it has come to notice by the publicity being made by the NMU that the Union proposed to go on strike for two days on 29.09.1997 and 30.09.1997.  All out efforts are being made to avert the strike by requesting the Union to come to a reasonable settlement.

         The Government of A.P. vide G.O. Rt .No.1500, dated 10.06.1997 have declared the Motor Transport Industry in the State of A.P. to be Public Utility Service for the purpose of I.D. Act,1947 for a period of six months from 20.05.1997.  Further the Government of Andhra Pradesh Under Essential Service Maintenance Act, 1971  have prohibited Strikes in any service under APSRTC vide G.O. Ms. No. 99, Dt. 26.05.1997 for a period of six months from 02.06.1997.  Hence the proposed strike by APSRTC National Mazdoor Union for two days on 29-09-1997 and 30-09-1997 will be considered as illegal strike.  The Unit Officers should call the Employees and advise them the correct position and consequences, they join the illeageal Strike. 

        However in the event of strike getting materialize, the following instructions / guidelines are to be followed by all the Officers of the Corporation.

     1.    All the employees who are on sanctioned leave before the date of receipt of this Circular should be called back and asked to report for duty.  However, the Executive Director of the zone concerned and ED (A) in Head Office may sanction leave in emergent and extraordinary cases.

    2.    As the strike is illegal, wages for the strike period shall be deducted from the Salary of September, 1997 to those who participated in ;the strike.

    3.    Separate attendance register / Control charts should be append for the strike period and the employees participated in the strike should be marked ABSENT.  The attendance register/control charts must be kept separately under the personal custody of the Unit Officer.  An entry in RED INK shall be made in their service registers as "PARTICIPATED IN THE ILLEGAL STRIKE".

    4.    Services of the employees who are on contract/casual basis need not be continued if they join the illegal strike.

    5.    Services of the employees appointed under Reg. 17 need not be continued if they participate in the illegal strike.

    6.    The employees who are on probation are liable for reversion to their substantive post if they participate in the strike.

    7.    Employees promoted under Reg.30 are liable for reversion if they participate in the strike.

    8.    Employees under probation in their first appointment are liable for termination of their probation if they go on strike.

    9.    Employees who participate in the strike are liable for prosecution under Section 4 of A.P. Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1971.

    10.    A notice detailing the above consequences shall be put up on the Notice Board.

    11.    Necessary security measures shall be taken to protect the Corporation properties.  Local Revenue and Police

        Authorities shall be contacted for necessary assistance and Police Bondobust.

    12.    Report on the strike covering the particulars of number of staff participated in the strike, KMs operated and cancelled  and loss of earning shall be sent to the Executive Director / Zone by the respective Unit Offices and consolidated statement of the Zone shall be forwarded to Head Office by the Executive Director concerned.  Periodical communication form Regional Managers / Executive Directors shall be sent to Head Office to Telephone No. 7616935 (Communication Cell) and Chief Traffic Manager, Hyderabad Ph. No. 7615725 or by FAX.

    13.    In the Corporate Office, a special communication cell is set up which will function on Telephone No.  7615220 and 7617571/325 round the clock from 22.00 Hrs. on 28.09.1997 till the strike is called off and normalcy is restored.  The Dy. CPMs/POs of the respective Zone/Region shall inform the attendance particulars viz.,No. of employees on rolls and No. of employees absented on account of Strike and Strike situation every day by Telephone / Telex/ Fax. 

    14.    At Zonal Office/Regional Office, separate Telephone arrangements with necessary staff shall be arranged to work round the clock during the Strike period.

    15.    Detailed instructions will be given by the Operations Department separately for operation of services.

            Please acknowledge receipt.

Sd/- D.P. SASTRY,

for VICE-CHAIRMAN &

MANAGING DIRECTOR

To

All Officers of the Corporation.

/ / ATTESTED / /

Sd/-B.S.R. MURTHY

DY.CHIEF PERSONNEL MANAGER (IR&W)